ABSTRACT
In this paper, we explore the rise and fall of the Mandarese maritime network in the Makassar Strait in the early twentieth century. The objective of this study is to address the following three questions using a historical method: (1) how did the Mandarese establish their shipping network? (2) what commodities did the Mandarese trade and how were they distributed? and (3) why the maritime trade declined in the early 1940s? The results show that the establishment of the Mandarese maritime network was supported by cultural, geographical, and economic factors. The Pambauwang sailors mainly carried out shipping activities around the Pambauwang and Majene ports. The four main commodities traded were copra, rice, woven fabric, and dried fish, which were exchanged for other commodities from other ports in the archipelago. The ability to manage the cultural and natural resources was crucial in the growth of their maritime trade. In the early 1940s, Mandar’s maritime network declined due to safety issues for ships sailing at sea, which affected their ability to buy and sell commodities. In this context, maritime safety is vital for the survival of Mandar’s maritime network.
