The Laguna Copperplate Inscription: An Ancient Text That Changed the Perception of the History of the Philippines

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is the name of an inscription written on an artifact that has great significance for the understanding of the history of the Philippines during the 10th century AD – a time when many scholars believed that the area was isolated from the rest of Southeast Asia.

Political Entities in Southeast Asia in the 10th Century

During the 10th century, a number of political entities were in existence in Southeast Asia. One of the most famous of these was the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of the Southeast Asian mainland. To its east, the modern country of Vietnam was divided between the Chinese in the north, and the Kingdom of Champa in the south. The seas below the Southeast Asian mainland were beyond the reach of the Khmers and were largely controlled by a maritime empire known as Srivijaya.