Indonesia was founded on August 17, 1945 under the name, the Republic of Indonesia and before 1945 it was ruled by the Dutch. But even a half a million years before the Dutch even set foot in Indonesia soil prehistoric humans began to settle the land. Not until sixty thousand years ago though were there fully developed human settlements there. Then in 1511 the Dutch started to rule Indonesia (then Java) because it had some of the best coffee beans and spices in the known world. They ended up taking seventy-five percent of the coffee and spices for themselves and mistreating the Indonesian people. Then in 1941 the Indonesian people started a war against the Dutch rulers and four years later they won their independence.
Indonesia is located in the southeast part of Asia. It consists of thirteen thousand six hundred and seventy – seven islands which are located along the equator between Asia and Australia. It shares land boundaries with Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and has a tropical climate. The temperature at sea level averages eighty degrees Fahrenheit all year long with humidity of 80 percent. It has both a wet and dry season. The wet season is from November to March and the dry season is from June to October. The dry and wet seasons are caused by different monsoons. On average the driest regions in Indonesia receive about thirty-five to forty inches of rain each year and the wettest regions receive seventy to one hundred twenty-five inches each year.
Indonesia has a population of about two hundred twenty-five million and is the world’s forth largest country. It has more males than females and the oldest males are typically favored. Indonesia’s population is growing by one and sixty-three hundredths percent each year. Since this birth rate is unreasonably high, the government is promoting the idea that every family should have a maximum of two children. Indonesians average life span is 68 years and females typically live longer. The main language is Bahasa Indonesia (a form of Malay) but other widely spoken languages include English, Javanese and Dutch. There are also over three hundred local dialects spoken throughout the country and Indonesia has the most registered languages in the world.
Indonesia has many natural resources including petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, coal, gold, silver and fertile soils. Indonesia also has many industries including petroleum, natural gas, fabrics, clothing, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism, and farming. Its main industry is farming and more then half the population are farmers. Rice is the main crop but cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, poultry, beef, pork, and eggs are also produced. As you can see, Indonesia has many different crops and farming is the main occupation. Most Indonesia farmers are only subsistence farmers because they only have enough land to feed themselves. This causes Indonesia to be a very poor country and a headquarters for cheap labor. Indonesia also is famous for its spices and oil. You could safely say that without oil and rice Indonesia might not be able to survive.
Indonesia has an Indian – style democracy. It contains twenty – seven provinces each of which are governed by a governor. Above him is the president and under him is the district leader. There are also town and village leaders. The president serves for a five year term and can be reelected. Indonesia has six branches of government including a House of Representatives and a Supreme Court. Making decisions takes a long time because in an Indian – style democracy everyone’s opinions are heard and considered. In a way the democracy leaders in Indonesia are much like our American leaders today.