The following image was taken from the sliding door of our stateroom.
As always, the images and any videos in this posting are best viewed on the web page. View the complete set of blog posts here.
Enrichment – “The History of Sri Lanka.” Explore the strategic location and deep harbors, which have helped Sri Lanka maintain regional prominence over its history – Bryan Babcock
Brian started off discussing Buddhism as it is the most common religion in Sri Lanka, and he wanted to give a dedicated presentation on the topic, but could not find a good time. He covered the four noble truths and the eight-spoked wheel. He noted that many believe Buddhism to be a way of life rather than a religion. Buddhism was very important to early Sri Lankan history.
Thousands of years ago, Sri Lanka and India were connected with a land bridge, and Tamil and Sinhalese people from India migrated to what is now Sri Lanka. We were walked through two major early kingdoms, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, followed by the colonial period involving the Portuguese and British. The island retains significant British influence from direct governance from 1796 to 1948 and indirectly from its close Indian ties (also a British colony).
Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, later becoming a republic and changing its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka in 1972. It suffered from a Civil War from 1983 to 2009: A conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). The country suffered a five-year economic crisis, leading to major protests, political transition, near bankruptcy, and was forced to lease a 70% stake of the Hambantota Port to China for 99 years because they couldn’t repay the Chinese construction loan. Like many small countries in the Indian Ocean, the country lacks government and economic stability. We have been learning about the extensive reach of the Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” which provides investment/loans in many poor countries in SE Asia and Africa. The Chinese sphere of influence is alarming. We don’t hear enough about its breadth in the United States.
The country is known for producing around 90% of the world’s supply of “true” (Ceylon) cinnamon. Additionally, Ceylon tea is world-renowned, and the worldwide Lipton brand was started in Sri Lanka in the 1890’s.
And a few factoids about Sri Lanka – it has a population of 23 million people, 70% of which are Buddhists. In terms of the government, there is some hope for the future. The new president is working to create national unity, diminish corruption, and shore up the economy, which declined 10% in 2023-24. It ranks 154th in the world in terms of GDP.
Enrichment – “The Indian Ocean: A Highway of Civilization.” Discover how the Indian Ocean shaped civilizations, trade, culture, and human stories across many countries – Susan Braud
The Indian Ocean has been sailed extensively ever since man was able to build seaworthy ships. Significantly longer than either Atlantic or Pacific routes. Sailors exchanged goods, religions, ideas, languages, food, and art.
Susan touched on how captains needed to master the monsoon winds to their advantage. She summarized early sea-based empires: the Srivijaya and Majapahit. The ocean became even more important after De Gamma sailed around the southern tip of Africa, providing a valuable and less expensive alternative to goods transported using the land Silk Highway through Asia.
I thought her summary slide was terrific:
- Connectivity Beats Conquest – Trade networks often outlast empires of brute force.
- Globalization Is Not New – Goods, ideas, and people moved between continents long before “the West”.
- Cultural Exchange Works Best Without Erasure – Ideas spread adaptively through merchants, adaptation, and intermarriage.
- Trade Creates Hybrid Societies – Maritime cultures mixed languages, ethnicities, and religions creatively.
- Geography Shapes Power- But Doesn’t Fix It Forever – Institutions and adaptability over geography- decide who dominates.
- Decline Often Comes from Internal Fracture, Not External Invasion – Elite conflict and loss of legitimacy usually precede outside threats.
- Maritime Worlds Are More Flexible Than Land Empires – Sea-based trade systems thrived by decentralizing and adapting
- Small Nodes Can Have Outsized Impact – Minor ports managed chokepoints and shaped global history.
- Religious and Commercial Networks Reinforce Each Other – Mosques, temples, and merchant guilds stabilized society and economy.
- The Ocean Rewards Cooperation, Punishes Isolation – Prosperity followed openness, decline followed withdrawal or infighting
Durable power comes from connectivity, adaptability, cultural exchange, and internal cohesion – not just brute force or rigid control.
End of Post.