Srivijaya is located in modern-day Indonesia and Cambodia, on the Strait of Malacca. The center of the empire was on the Musi River. Srivijaya means glorious victory. Many archaeologists have forgotten the Srivijayan Empire because few large buildings remain. Despite the common belief that trade in Srivijaya only affected politics, trade also influenced religion and economics. Srivijaya's geography made it a prime location for trade. Srivijaya was located in the Strait of Malacca, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Its location gave it complete control over the Strait of Malacca. This strait was the fastest route between China and India, so all merchants used their seas. They had no other choice. If they had gone another route, it would have taken much longer and would have been less effective. Additionally, because Srivijaya controlled the Strait of Malacca, they taxed incoming ships. Almost all shipping traffic passed through their seas, so they made a lot of money from these taxes. This placed them at the center of commerce. They had access to everything, from ...