About 10.000 years ago, the Orang Asli (comparable to Malay Aboriginals) left from southwest China to the peninsula we now call West-Malaysia. Until 1405 the following superpowers reigned over the peninsula; the Funan (Cambodia), the Srivijaya (Sumatra) and the Majapahit (Java). From 1405 onwards the Chinese influence in this area grew. In this period the Islamic way of thinking also set in when Arabic traders arrived. In a short period of time many people converted to this religion. From 1500 on the trade in Southeast Asia increased enormously. The European superpowers of that time acquired interest in the local resources, the era of trade over sea had started and Malaysia would play a big part in it.