 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 spice from ancient times in the Majapahit era, until well into the Dutch East India Company (VOC) era.The VOC set their foothold on Batavia in the 17th century and was succeeded by the Dutch East Indies in the 19th century.