The rationale behind urban form of the Javanese inland cities : Urban morphology of shifting capitals of Islamic mataram kingdom and its successors

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to deconstruct ideas of Indic cosmological concepts imposed upon the Inland Javanese Cities, by attempting to find the rationale of the Inland Javanese Cities urban form from urban morphological and socio-political evidence. Using six cities of the Islamic-Mataram Kingdom, urban primary elements are identified, and a comparative study is undertaken. This resulted in the conclusion that rather than classical Indic cosmological concepts, the urban form of these Inland Javanese cities were created through a multi-complex contemporary social, cultural, and political process, with a highlight on the political exercises of the Javanese ruler in the context of interaction of culture and power from other Javanese cities/states and from abroad, especially from the Dutch.