Answer:
They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
Explanation:
For thousands of years, the strait of Malacca due to its geographical location has remained an important sea trade route to India and China. This gave the sultanate access to various commodities that were popular in South East Asia.
Items such as sandalwood, spices, tropical fruits, glassware, etc., were brought from India, China, and the other southeast Asian countries. Being the shortest route between the Far East and Indian Ocean, it became an important hub for trade and thus provided the sultanate with an economical advantage.
