How did geography most benefit the Malacca and Brunei sultanates?
1. They depended on natural barriers like mountains to protect them from invasion.
2. They used overland access to india and China to develop profitable trade relations.
3. They spread out across many islands, making it difficult for other people to conquer and control them.
4. They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
The options 2 and 4 best explain how geography most benefited the Malacca and Brunei sultanates.
1. While natural barriers like mountains might have provided some protection, they were not the primary means by which these sultanates benefited from their geography.
2. Both the Malacca and Brunei sultanates were strategically located along the maritime trade routes between India and China. They took advantage of their overland access to these two major trading powers and developed profitable trade relations. This allowed them to thrive economically and gain wealth and influence.
3. While the sultanates did spread out across many islands, this geographical aspect alone did not necessarily provide them with inherent benefits. However, it did make it more challenging for other powers to easily conquer and control them, which indirectly benefited them in terms of retaining their independence.
4. The most significant geographical advantage for both the Malacca and Brunei sultanates was their control over important waterways, such as the Strait of Malacca. These narrow channels served as vital sea trade routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. By controlling these waterways, the sultanates were able to monopolize and regulate the flow of trade, gaining immense wealth and power. This gave them a strong position in regional geopolitics and allowed them to establish themselves as prominent trading hubs.