Sabu

Sabu belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands, where seasonal rain, dry land and coastal waters shape livelihoods. Farming and livestock provide resources alongside fishing and exchange. Water and plant knowledge matter as conditions change through the year. Boats connect shores and neighbouring islands, with winds and currents influencing travel.

In the later medieval and early modern periods, trade, migration and political relationships connected the wider eastern Indonesian islands. Communities and rulers negotiated alliances while exchanging food, livestock, textiles and other goods. Religious traditions varied between islands, and merchants and migrants brought outside influences. Portuguese and Dutch interests added commercial and political pressure, while local institutions continued to organise land and work.