[[File:KerbauJawa.jpg|left|thumb|[[Water buffalo]] ploughing [[Paddy field|rice fields]] near [[Salatiga]], in [[Central Java]]]]
Initially the economy of Java relied heavily on [[rice]] agriculture. Ancient kingdoms such as the [[TarumanagaraKingdoms of Sunda]], [[Mataram Kingdom|Mataram]], and [[Majapahit]] were dependent on rice yields and tax. Java was famous for rice surpluses and rice export since ancient times, and rice agriculture contributed to the population growth of the island. Trade with other parts of Asia such as ancient India and China flourished as early as the 4th century, as evidenced by Chinese ceramics found on the island dated to that period. Java also took part in the global trade of [[Maluku Islands|Maluku]] [[spice]] from ancient times in the Majapahit era, until well into the [[Dutch East India Company]] (VOC) era.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
[[File:Java Transportation Network.svg|thumb|Java transport network]]
