The Philippines' Sulu Sultanate That Dominated Maritime Trade For Centuries | The Mark Of Empire

For nearly five centuries, a powerful kingdom ruled the southern seas of the Philippines - the legendary Sultanate of Sulu. Once a thriving maritime empire built on trade, faith, and diplomacy, the Sultanate rose to greatness before facing foreign powers like Spain’s colonial empire that threatened its independence. Join curator and scholar Peter Lee on a journey across the Philippines to rediscover this lost kingdom. From diving with the Sama Dilaut sea nomads, to uncovering centuries-old royal letters and treaties, to meeting a living descendant of Sulu royalty, discover the hidden history, untold power, and lasting legacy of the Sultanate of Sulu - one of Asia’s most remarkable forgotten empires. WATCH MORE The Mark of Empire:    • The Mark of Empire   00:00 Introduction 02:45 Islam’s arrival in Sulu Archipelago 05:24 Jolo island’s militant past 08:06 Founding the Sultanate of Sulu 09:34 Archeological evidence of trade 11:33 Diving for sea cucumber in Sulu Sea 16:16 Handweaving traditional Tausug fabrics 20:33 Kinabayo Festival 24:18 Kuntaw martial arts 26:41 Negotiating with the Spanish 28:30 Sultan Alimuddin’s secret letter 31:26 Sailing on Vinta boats 34:39 Kissa: Songs of the Sultanate 37:58 Spain’s final push into Sulu 39:54 Talking to a living descendant of Sulu royalty 42:29 Inside the restored Darul Jambangan Palace 44:12 Youth protecting Sulu’s Seas ============================== ABOUT The Mark of Empire: Kingdoms of the Sea: What are the secrets and mysteries behind Asia’s ancient empires? In the third season of this award-winning series, curator and scholar Peter Lee is back on a journey to trace clues and uncover new theories behind the Srivijaya empire, the Champa kingdom, the Sultanate of Sulu, and the Anuradhapura kingdom. What were the epic battles, political alliances and cultural exchanges forged by the four powers in the region? From investigating the iconic reliefs of Borobudur temple in Indonesia, to diving for sea cucumbers in the Philippines’ Sulu Archipelago, to practicing the ancient martial art of Angampora in Sri Lanka, and learning about modern Cham rap music in Vietnam, Peter traces the rise and fall of these formidable kingdoms, and the cultural legacies that they have left on the region until today. ============================== #CNAInsider #CNAInsiderDocumentaries #CNATheMarkOfEmpire #Phillipines #Spain #History #MaritimeHistory For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Instagram:   / cnainsider   Facebook:   / cnainsider   Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider