Makassar

Makassar is a major urban center located in Indonesia. It serves as the capital of the South Sulawesi province. The city sits on the southwest coast of the island of Sulawesi. It faces the waters of the Makassar Strait.

As a vital part of Eastern Indonesia, it is the largest city in that region. Nationally, it is the fifth-largest urban center. It follows Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung in size. It is also one of Indonesia's four main cities.

For centuries, Makassar functioned as a critical international trading port. Its importance grew because of the high demand for spices in the West. The city was the center of the powerful Gowa and Tallo sultanates. These two kingdoms formed a partnership that lasted through the city's peak. The center of this dual kingdom was at Sombaopu. This site was near the mouth of the Jeneberang River.

International traders, including Malay, Portuguese, English, and Chinese merchants, all used this port. The local rulers maintained a policy of free trade. They refused to let any single group establish a monopoly over the goods.

Many different groups shaped the city's history through conflict and cooperation. In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors used the port as a base. They called the city Macáçar. By the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company, known as the VOC, arrived. The VOC wanted a monopoly on nutmeg and cloves. This led to intense struggles between the Dutch and local powers. After the death of the ruler Karaeng Pattingalloang, conflicts escalated. The Bugis people rebelled, and the Dutch used this opportunity to conquer the area.

The Dutch destroyed Sombaopu and moved the city center to the north. They rebuilt a fort there and named it Fort Rotterdam.

Names for the city have changed many times over the years. In English, it was often spelled Macassar. The Portuguese used the spelling Macáçar. After the Dutch rule, the spelling Makassar was kept. In 1971, the city was renamed Ujung Pandang. This name was based on a pre-colonial name for Fort Rotterdam. The change happened as the city expanded to include neighboring regions. However, the name Ujung Pandang was not popular with local people. In 1999, President B. J. Habibie changed the name back to Makassar.

In the local language, the city is known as Mangkasara'.

Makassar has experienced significant shifts in its political status. After World War II, Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945. In 1946, Makassar was named the capital of the State of East Indonesia. This was a Dutch puppet state. This arrangement did not last long. In 1950, the Makassar Uprising occurred. This event led to the integration of the state into the Republic of Indonesia. During World War II, Japanese forces landed near the city in 1942. The Dutch defenders were overtaken and captured by the Japanese.

Today, Makassar is a massive and growing metropolitan area. The city itself has a population of approximately 1.474 million people. This includes 732,391 males and 742,002 females as of mid-2023. The city is divided into fifteen administrative districts. The wider metropolitan area is known as Mamminasata. It includes thirty-three additional districts from neighboring regencies. The population of this entire metropolitan area is around 2,795,639.

Economically, the city is very strong. Bank Indonesia reports that Makassar has the second-highest commercial property values in Indonesia. This is only behind Greater Jakarta.

Modern Makassar remains a vital hub for education and commerce. It is home to important institutions like Hasanuddin University.

The city's streets are busy with local activity. You might see people using pete-pete, which are local share taxis.

The city continues to collect important goods from Eastern Indonesia. These include items like copra, rattan, pearls, and sandalwood. It also produces oil from bado nuts. Historically, even the market streets were central to this trade.

Makassar connects the resources of the islands to the rest of the world.