History & Hindu Influence

There are few traces of Stone Age people on Bali, although it's certain that the island was populated very early in the pre-historic times - fossilized human remains from neighbouring Java have been dated to as early as 250,000 years ago. The earliest human artifacts found on Bali are stone tools and earthenware vessels dug up near Cekik (West Bali), estimated to be 3000 years old. Other artifacts indicate that the Bronze Age began on Bali before 300 BC.

Little is known of Bali during the period when Indian traders brought Hinduism to the Indonesian archipelago. The earliest written records are inscriptions on a stone pillar near Sanur (south Bali), dating from around the 9th century AD, and by that time Bali has island you find today. Rice, for example, was grown with the help of a complex irrigation system, probably very like that employed now. The Balinese had also already begun to develop the cultural and artistic activities which have made the island so interesting to visitors to the present day.

The Hindu state of Java began to spread its influence into Bali during the reign of King Airlangga (1019 -24). At the age of 16, when his uncle lost throne, Airlangga fled in to the forests of west Java. He gradually gained support, won back the kingdom once ruled by his uncle and went on to become one of Java's greatest kings. Airlangga's mother had moved to Bali and remarried shortly after his birth, so when he gained the throne there was an immediate link between Java and Bali. At this time the courtly Javanese language known as Kawi came into use among the royalty of Bali, and the rock-cut memorials seen at Gunung Kawi, near Tampak Siring, are a clear architectural link between Bali and 11th century Java. 

Climate

Just 8degree south of the equator, Bali has a tropical climate which is not all year. The average temperature hovers around 30 degree celcius (mid-80 degree F) year around, but the humidity can make the heat feel very oppressive. Direct sun feels incredibly hot, especially in the middle of the day when you'd be crazy if you didn't stay in the shade. There are dry and wet season - dry from April to September and wet from October to March - but it can rain at any time of year and even during the wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. In general, the best months are April to September, when the humidity is lower and the rain is light and infrequent.

Geography & Geology

Bali is a small island, midway along the string of islands which makes up the Indonesian archipelago. It's adjacent to Java, the most heavily populated island, and immediately west of the chain of smaller islands comprising Nusa Tenggara. Bali has an area of 5620sq km, measuring approximately 140km by 80km. Bali is dramatically mountainous - the central mountain chain which runs the whole length of the island includes several peaks approaching or over 2000m. Gunung Agung , known as the "mother mountain" is 3142m high.

Population, People & Caste System

Bali is a densely populated island, with an estimated 2.9 million people in 1995 - about 520 people per sq km. The population is almost all Indonesian; 95% are of Balinese Hindu religion and could be described as ethnic Balinese. Most of the other residents are from other parts of Indonesia - particularly Java, but also Sumatra and Nusa Tenggara; the tourist industry is a magnet for people seeking jobs and business opportunities. Quite a few Balinese have moved to more lightly populated islands as part of the transmigration program.

The caste system derives from Hindu traditionals on Java dating back to about 1350, although it is not nearly as strict as the system in India. On Bali, caste determines roles in religious rituals and the form of language to be used in every social situation.

Most aspects of Balinese culture have proved to be adaptable - as Bali becomes more and more a part of Indonesia and the rest of the world - but the question of caste problematic. There were pressures on and within the caster system even before the Dutch interests more than those of the Balinese. During the 1960s, the Communists opposed the caste system as a feudal relic; a view shared by liberals and intellectual, at least until the massacres of suspected Communist in 1965-6.

Despite the persistence of honorific titles, the practical importance of one's caste is diminishing, as status becomes more a matter of education, economic success and community influence.

The importance of caste differences in language is mitigated by the use of "polite" forms of Balinese language, or by using the national Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia), itself a sign of some status. In a traditional village, however, caste is still very much a part of life, and caste concepts are still absolutely essential to religious practices.

About 90% of Bali's ethnic population belongs to the common sudra (also known as wong kesamen) caste, and the rest belong to the triwangsa caste (which means three people), also known as wong menak. The triwangsa is divided into three sub caste listed in order of importance: Brahmana are high priests, with titles of Ida Bagus (male) and Ida Ayu (female); Ksatriyasa (or Satriana) are merchants, with titles of Cokordo (male) and Ana Agung female (females); Wesia (or Gusti) are the main caste of the nobility, with titles of Gusti Ngurah or Dewa Gede (male), and Gusti Ayu or Dewa Ayu (female).

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