Amboyna

Amboyna, commonly known as Ambon Island, is a volcanic island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It forms part of Maluku Province, and its administrative capital is Ambon City, located on the western coast. The name Amboyna is the historic European exonym for the island, while the local name is Ambon.

Geographically, Amboyna features rugged terrain with tropical rainforest and several volcanic peaks. The interior is sparsely populated, and the climate is tropical with heavy year‑round rainfall. The coast and harbors, including those serving Ambon City, have supported trade and settlement for centuries.

Historically, Amboyna was a major center of the spice trade, particularly cloves and nutmeg, and was intensively involved in the competing interests of regional powers and European traders from the 16th century onward. Control of the island passed from the Portuguese to the Dutch East India Company (VOC). A notable episode in its history is the Amboyna Massacre of 1623, in which a number of English and other prisoners were executed by the VOC, a事件 that influenced Anglo-Dutch relations in the region. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the island remained part of the Dutch East Indies and became part of Indonesia after independence in 1949. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw periods of sectarian conflict, though stability has generally returned.

Economically, contemporary Amboyna relies on agriculture (including cloves and copra), fishing, and services, with Ambon City serving as the main port and administrative center. The population is multi-ethnic and religiously diverse, with Ambonese people practicing Christianity and Islam; languages include Indonesian and Ambonese Malay. The island preserves a mix of cultural traditions and historic sites, such as Fort Victoria.