What is Indonesia (part 1)

Republic of Indonesia or Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia, which is crossed by the equator and located between the continents of Asia and Australia as well as between the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic nation made ​​up of 13 487 islands, so he is also known as Nusantara. With a population of 222 million people in 2006, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and the largest Muslim country in the world, although not officially an Islamic state. Indonesia is a republic form of government and the nation's capital is Jakarta. Indonesia borders Malaysia on Borneo island, with Papua New Guinea on New Guinea and East Timor on the island of Timor. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India.

Indonesia archipelago became an important trade region since at least the 7th century, when the Srivijaya Kingdom of Palembang in religion and trade relations with China and India. Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms have evolved in the early centuries AD, followed by the traders who brought Islam, and various European powers fought one another to monopolize the spice trade in the Moluccas during the era of ocean exploration. Once under the authority of the Netherlands, called the Dutch East Indies Indonesia declared its independence at the end of World War II.

From Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia consists of various ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest ethnic group and most politically dominant. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhineka Tunggal Ika" ("It varies, but remains one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Besides having a dense population and vast territory, Indonesia has a natural area that supports the second largest biodiversity in the world. Indonesia is also a member of the United Nations. In addition to the United Nations, Indonesia is also a member of ASEAN, APEC, OIC, G-20 and will be a member of the OECD.

The word "Indonesia" is derived from the Latin Indus, meaning "Ocean" and the Greek nesosyang means "island". So, says Indonesia means the territory of the Indian islands, or archipelago located in the Indies, which indicates that the name was formed long before Indonesia became a sovereign state.