Ambemarivo/Travel Guide

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Ambemarivo (암베마리쁘, literally "the Shallow Waters") is an island nation in the Western Ocean, with Namju to the southeast, and Matobo and Tsongtiko only a short ferry ride to the west. Although the island is geographically in Miju, it is culturally and politically a Haegyean country, and is a member of the Jangjip Council.

Understand

 * "Joyful and sad is the one who wants to establish a heritage." —King Andriamanalina II

History
Despite its proximity to Miju, Ambemarivo was one of the last landmasses to be settled by humans. Archaeological evidence of a forager pygmy culture on the island begins in 10,000 BCE, although its customs are largely unknown. Known as the Vazimba, the original inhabitants were assimilated entirely by waves of Ma'anyan migrations from Nagara Dipa starting in 350 BCE. By the 14th century CE, Vazimba, Jangjip, and Vanhu cultures had been decisively fused into an "Ambemarivese culture," which characterized the Mpanakena Kingdom (1228—1712), the historically longest-ruling authority over the island.

The royal period of Ambemarivo saw innovations in governance, jurisprudence, military and sciences due to a commercial network spanning southern Miju, southern Yoju, western aboriginal Namju, and Haegye. The indigenous monotheistic religion, known as Jacheonism, flourished after borrowing ideas from Vanhu philosophy across the sea. The Mpanakena Kingdom was typically amicable to Matobwe equivalents, and often hired mercenaries from abroad to settle internal disputes. In the late 15th century, Van Xuan carved out expeditions to Ambemarivo and the vicinity, greatly diminishing the Mpanakena's trade force. Eventually, explorers from Van Xuan settled down in Ambemarivo. In Antalaha, the Sangha of Ambemarivo was erected in 1506, a Buddhist spiritual center and legation of Van Xuan. Monks devised a (Cheonjean) writing system and dictionary for Ambemarivese, and a literacy campaign was promoted by the Mpanakena.

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