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Ibn Battuta’s Visit to the Maldives (1343–1344): A Window into a Pre-Colonial Maritime Hub
In 1343, the renowned Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta arrived in the Maldives, a vast Islamic sultanate extending over 1,800 kilometers,...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Aug 135 min read
Ambergris and Cowrie Shells in Ancient Egyptian Culture: Trade, Perfumery, and Symbolism
Illustration of the ancient Cowry Shell & Ambergris Incense trade route, featuring a map with landmarks, ships on major waters, a...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Aug 126 min read
Maldives Shipbuilding: Native Trees, Timber, the Enduring Maritime Heritage, and the Forgotten Sanbaoku Dhoani
Ancient Maldivian Samboak Dhoani sailing majestically at sunset, capturing the vibrant colors and serene beauty of the sea. Maldivian...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Aug 17 min read
The Story of the Transatlantic Journey of Cowrie Shells: From Maldives to Virginia, USA
Ahmad Ibn Majid, the renowned Arab navigator, is depicted guiding Vasco da Gama's fleet across the Indian Ocean, a pivotal moment in the...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 289 min read
Maldives , GDh. Gan Island "Big Cats"Piracy: A Masked Threat or Folklore?
Slavers may have targeted G.Dh Gan due to: Geographical Location (proximity to trade routes), Economic Opportunities The Maldives, a...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 237 min read
The Shipwreck of Huvadhoo Atoll and the Tragic Hajj of 1799: Pivotal Moments in Maldives’ Late 18th-Century History.
A depiction of the Tragic Hajj of 1799, featuring Sultan Al Hajj Hassan Nooraddeenul Iskandhar I facing maritime perils and desert...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 184 min read
Sustaining the Maldives’ Fisheries: The Critical Role of Seabird Conservation and International Cooperation
Brown Noddy " Maaranga" Photo Credit: Shutterstock The fisheries industry in the Maldives, a vital part of its economy and cultural...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 104 min read
The Symbiotic Dance of "Hoara" Frigate birds and Maldivian Fishermen: A Harmony of Nature and Tradition
A large flock of frigatebirds, rests in the branches of a lush green tree against a vibrant blue sky. The birds are densely clustered...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 95 min read
Ainmathee Dhooni –Seabirds as Guides to Tuna Shoals: The Indigenous Wisdom of Maldivian Fishers
Nazim,s painting, Tern Valla Ainmathee Dhooni In the vast, sun-dappled waters of the Maldives, where the horizon stretches endlessly and...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 85 min read
The Maldives Before the Suez Canal: A Maritime Hub in the Indian Ocean Introduction
Globe illustrates ancient trade routes, adorned with sailing ships, a compass, a Maldivian Dhowni and a spilled jar of cowrie shells,...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 75 min read
Ambergris"floatingold,”Maavaharu"and Oud in the Maritime Trade Networks of Kalinga, (Bangaalhu Kara) the Maldives, and the Middle East
Kalinga (present-day Odisha), State Maritime Museum / Photo Credi Chinmayee's Creations The maritime trade networks of the ancient...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 65 min read
The Maldives’ Independence and the Establishment of the British Indian Ocean Territory: A Tale of Sovereignty and Strategic Interests
Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir formally signs the independence agreement with British officials at Westminster House, Colombo, Ceylon,...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 54 min read
Ancient Egyptian Port Berenike Reveals the Hidden Connections Between Distant Civilizations.
An ancient Roman bireme sails across a vibrant, stylized nautical chart, reflecting the spirit of historical exploration and seafaring....
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 44 min read
The Coral Stone Inscription of Maldives N. Landhoo: A Window into Ancient Maritime History
Landhoo Island in Noonu Atoll The discovery of a coral stone inscribed with late Brahmi script in the Pallava style, dated to AD 6, on...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jul 43 min read
The Decline of "Utheemu Onu "Male Bamboo", Iron Bamboo, in the Maldives: From Abundance to Scarcity in the Wake of Modernization Introduction
"Male' Bamboo", Iron Bamboo" The Maldives, a tropical archipelago in the Indian Ocean, was once dotted with bamboo trees across its...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jun 266 min read
The Ancient Cowrie Route: Maldives, Seafarers, and World Seafarer’s Day, 25 June
Traditional Maldivian cargo boat "bhatheli" The Maldives, a string of coral atolls cradled by the Indian Ocean, has been a pivotal node...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jun 253 min read
Thulhaadhoo Island: The Maritime Origins and Cultural Exchange Behind Maldivian Lacquerwork
This art form is particularly associated with the island of Thulhaadhoo in Baa Atoll Lacquerwork, the intricate art of applying lacquer...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jun 257 min read
Stories of Hulhulé Island,"Hulhulé’s Transformation: From Cultural Haven to Velana Airport,
A historic 1950 gathering on Hulhule Island featuring Amin Didi and John Kotelawala, Minister of Transport and Works for Ceylon ,...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jun 227 min read
The Strategic French-Maldivian Alliance of 1753: Monsieur Le Termellier’s (Faranji Kalo) Legacy
A man with a beard Dhonbandaara and overlooking a naval battle depicted Malabaari ship, French Maldives soldiers ( Sepoys) manning...
Ibrahim Rasheed
Jun 24 min read
"Controversial British Surveys: Moresby Maps Maldives and Chagos Without Sultan’s Consent" between 1834 and 1836
Coconut Crabs , Chagos Archipelago After the Red Sea Survey, aimed at improving navigational charts and maritime geography...
Ibrahim Rasheed
May 304 min read
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