During which time period did Indianization primarily occur in Southeast Asia?

The process known as Indianization in Southeast Asia primarily took place from the 1st century CE onwards, but significant influences began to emerge during the earlier 2nd century BCE. During this period, Indian traders and cultural emissaries began to arrive in Southeast Asia, establishing trade routes and introducing various aspects of Indian culture, religion, and political organization.

Indian texts, religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, and cultural practices influenced local traditions and governance. This early interaction laid the groundwork for more sustained cultural exchange that characterized the region’s development in subsequent centuries, as more complex states and trade networks developed. The processes initiated in the 2nd century BCE set the stage for the more extensive Indian cultural influence that would be fully established by the 1st century CE.