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Historical Geography and Urbanizationin Ancient Arakan
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By Kyaw Minn Htin ၊ December, 2007
The paper titled "Historical Geography and Urbanization in Ancient Arakan" by Kyaw Minn Htin examines the development of ancient capitals in Arakan (Rakhine State, Myanmar) up to 1400 AD. Geographically situated on the boundary between South and Southeast Asia, Arakan served as an essential frontier region facilitating land and maritime trade between India and mainland Southeast Asia. The early urban centers, notably Dhanyawadi and Vesali, developed primarily along the fertile Kaladan and Lemro river valleys, where effective water management and natural topographic barriers supported wet-rice agriculture and provided defensive advantages.
Cultural and Numismatic Connections Archeological remains, art, and epigraphic data indicate significant Indian cultural influences in early Arakanese society, along with distinct political and commercial ties to East Bengal (such as the Harikela region). The author highlights structural and layout similarities between Arakanese walled cities and the Pyu cities of the Irrawaddy valley, including similar coin designs, Buddhist iconography, and city-gate architecture. Furthermore, epigraphic evidence reveals early trade routes and shared religious ties, reflecting Arakan's integrated role in broader regional exchanges during the first millennium AD.
The Lemro Period and Autonomous Identity Following the decline of Vesali, political power shifted to a series of smaller urban centers in the Lemro river valley from the eleventh to the fifteenth century. During this period, Arakanese culture began utilizing the local script and language in inscriptions, marking a distinct ethno-linguistic identity. Addressing the historical debates regarding the influence of the Bagan Kingdom, the paper argues that Arakan maintained a high degree of political and religious autonomy, supported by independent monastic links to Sri Lanka and a distinct historiographical tradition centered around the Mahamuni shrine.
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