Brief History

Not much is known of pre-Islamic Brunei, but evidence shows the area was trading with the Asian mainland as early as 518 CE. From the 14th to 16th centuries, Brunei was the seat of a powerful sultanate. It ruled over all of Sarawak, Sabah, and Borneo, as well as parts of the Sulu Islands and the Philippines. During this time two powerful Sultans ruled, Bolkia and Hassan. In the 1800s, the Sultan of Brunei sought English support to help defend the coast from Dayak Pirates. Adventurer James Brooke helped, and as a reward, he became a leader and governor in the northwest. In 1888, the British made Brunei a protectorate state. It remained this way until January 1st, 1984, when Brunei became an independent country.

National Flag

The national flag of Brunei is yellow, split by two diagonal stripes, one black and one white. In the center is the red crest of Brunei. The yellow represents the Sultan of Brunei, and the black and white stripes represent the country’s chief ministers. The flag was adopted in 1959.

Geography

Brunei is located in East Asia on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo. Brunei is surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. Most of the country is a flat coastal plain. There is also a mountainous region in the east, and hilly lowland in the west. Brunei also has rain-forests and several rivers.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 171st
Highest Mountain: Mount Murud, 2,424m (7,946 ft)
Longest River: Belait 32km (20 ft)

 

Main Languages

Malay.

Brunei Population: 428,962 (as of 2018)
Capital City: Bandar Seri Begawan
Capital City Population: 100,700 (as of 2007)

Climate

Brunei has a tropical rain-forest climate with heavy rainfall. The climate is warm and humid year-round. Usually, there are no dry periods in Brunei, although there are two monsoon periods. March is the hottest month in Brunei, with an average temperature of 27.5 degrees Celcius (82 Fahrenheit). The coldest month is January, which is also the wettest month, with an average of 290mm of rain.

Key People

• Hassnal Bolkiah
• Wu Chun
• Meria Aires

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Brunei is a blend of Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. Most meals are served with either rice or noodles, and have hot seasonings. Seafood is very common due to the miles of coastline. Fruits are plentiful in Brunei, because of the fertile soil. Bananas, papayas, watermelons, pineapples, coconuts, oranges, and many other fruits can be found in Brunei. The national dish of Brunei is Ambuyat, which is a starchy substance derived from the trunk of a sago palm. It is eaten by using a bamboo fork to dip it into one of the many sauce options.

  The picture is a picture of Ambuyat.

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  Sports

  Brunei has not had a history of being involved in many sports, but there has been an increase in the popularity of sports in recent years. Football is one of the most popular sports in Brunei, and the national team won the Malaysia Cup in 1999. Other popular sports include basketball, badminton, polo, and golf. Some traditional games include congkak and pasang.

  The picture is a picture of

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  Culture

  The culture of Brunei is influenced strongly by two things:  the Malay culture and the Islamic religion. More than two-thirds of the population is Malay, which is also the official language of Brunei. The remainder of the population is made up of Chinese and Indigenous groups including the Dayaks, Dusuns, and Kedazans. Islam is the official religion, and Muslims make up over 78% of the population. Music is an important part of Bruneian culture, and there is a wide array of native folk music and dance. Traditional arts and crafts including boat making, cloth and basket weaving, and bronze tooling are also important in Brunei.

   

  The picture is a picture of the Royal Regalia Museum.

   

  Brunei is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Brunei here:  (answers are on this page)

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