Srivijaya is a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influences much of Southeast Asia.

Srivijaya is an important center for Buddhist expansion in the 8th to 12th centuries.

In Sanskrit, sri means "fortunate", "prosperous", or "happy" and vijaya means "victorious" or "excellence".

The earliest evidence of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, Yijing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6 months.

The first inscription in which the name Srivijaya appears also dates from the 7th century, namely the Kedukan Bukit inscription around Palembang in Sumatra, dated 16 June 682 Between late 7th to early 11th century Srivijaya rises to become hegemon in Southeast Asia, involved in close interactions — often rivalries — with neighboring Java, Kambuja and Champa.

Srivijaya's main foreign interest is nurturing lucrative trading rights with China spanning from the Tang to Song eras.

Srivijaya also has religious, cultural and trading links with the Buddhist Pala Empire of Bengal, also having relations with Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East.

The kingdom ceases to exist in the 13th century due to various factors, including the expansion of the Javanese Majapahit empire.

After Srivijaya falls, it is largely forgotten, historians not having even considered that a large united kingdom could have been present in Southeast Asia.

The existence of Srivijaya was only formally suspected in 1918, when French historian George Coedès of the École française d'Extrême-Orient postulated its existence.

The aerial photograph taken in 1984 revealed the remnants of man-made ancient canals, moats, ponds, and artificial islands in Karanganyar site in Palembang suggested the location as Srivijaya urban center.

Several artifacts such as fragments of inscription, Buddhist statues, beads, pottery and Chinese ceramics were found, confirming that the area was once a dense human habitation.

By 1993, Pierre-Yves Manguin had proven that the center of Srivijaya was along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking (situated in what is now Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia).

In 2013, archaeological research led by University of Indonesia discovered some extensive religious and habitation sites in Muaro Jambi archaeological site, and suggested that the initial center of Srivijaya was located in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province in Batanghari river bank, instead of Palembang in Musi river bank.