The Singapore Stone
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
History Chapter 1: was there Singapore before 1819? The Singapore stone: • Located at the mouth of the Singapore River • Measures 3 metres high and wide- Found 150 years ago. • Writing dated back to the 12th or 13th centuries • Writing shows that people of those days could read and write but in a different language from us today. The Serajah Melayu: • Tells of life in the 13th and 14th centuries • Singapore was called Temasek, meant sea port or sea town • Singapore was founded by a ruler from Sumatra, Palembang inSumatra, renaming Temasek Singapura meaning Lion City (the guywas Sang Nila Utama) • Singapore grew into a triving trading centre under the leadership of • Sang Nila Utama and his descendents, even the Majapahit empire wanted to seize Singapore for its own. • So the wall of the fort stretched from the sea to the wall called Bukit Larangan, now known as Fort Canning Hill. • Daoyi Zhi Lue (Description of the Barbarians of the Isles) • Travel Accounts by Wang Da yuan, visiting Singapore during the 14th centuries • Singapore was a great and famous place, many foreigners visited it.The Chinese trading ships had to sail through a dragon’s teeth strait between south coast of Singapore and Sentosa Island • There was a large range of exported products such as hornbillcasques, laksa wood and cotton • Traders were afraid to come to Temasek due to piracy. • Jewellery, porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware • Found at fort canning park- Dated in the 14th and 15th centuries • Some of these objects came from China, Yuan and Ming dynasty (blueand white porcelain), Sri Lanka and Thailand (glazed pottery) What happened to Singapore after the 14th century? • - Parameswara from Palembang murdered the local ruler and made himself king in Singapura Parameswara was driven out by the Javanese or Siamese troops andfled to Melaka where he founded a port city taking away Singapore’s importance as a trading port • Melaka was later captured by the Portuguese in 1511, thereby controlling the spice trade in the region • In 1613, they burnt down the settlement at the mouth of theSingapore River to prevent from other European forces from settling there and having a share of their great profits • The region was later on taken over by the Dutch • Singapura still traded with China in the 16th and 17th century as the Blue and white porcelain made during that time period was discovered. How different are archaeologists and historians? • Archaeologists study the past through material remains people left behind whilst historians study the past through written records or texts • Examples of what archaeologists study: Artefacts, Rocks (Geology),floral and fauna remains. • Examples of what historians study: Maps, Diaries, Inscriptions,Photographs, and Interviews with eye witnesses. Chapter 2: Who was the founder of Singapore? Why was Singapore chosen by the British? Need to break Dutch control of trade in the Malay Archipelago. • Competition between British and Dutch East India Companies outside Europe for profit and Monopoly of trade routes. • Britain had already commerce with China, India and the Malay Archipelago. • Dutch controlled a large part of Java and Melaka. They restricted British to only trade at Batavia • The British were taxed heavily on the goods they sold or bought. • Every Asian trading boat had to fly a Dutch flag and carry a Dutch permit or pass in order to trade at Dutch- controlled ports. • Thus, the Dutch became the biggest rival of the British in SoutheastAsia • Importance of India-China trade • - British had a lucrative trade with China- A new trading settlement was needed as a stopover point. • Ineffectiveness of Bencoolen and Penang versus Melaka • - Location of both ports was too far from main trading area in MalayArchipelago • Bencoolen was an unsuitable trading port as it was situated on thewrong side of Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean instead of the Straitsof Melaka. • Penang was lying too far north of the Straits of Melaka and was notvery useful for controlling the Straits of Melaka and protecting Britishships using the Straits. • Dutch controlled both Straits of Melaka and Straits of Sunda. They could cut off the valuable trade between Penang and the important trading centres within the Archipelago. • Singapore’s qualities • It has an excellent harbour and a good supply of drinking water • Could protect shipping in time of piracy • Central position in the Straits of Melaka- Protect ships between China and India • What problems did the British face in starting a trading settlement inSingapore? • The Dutch were in control • Singapore was under the rule of Sultan Abdul Raman who was underthe Dutch • Raffles decided to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultanand obtain permission to set up a settlement in Singapore • To ensure the Dutch did not suspect anything, Tengku Hussein left secretly to come to Singapore. • 6 February 1819, Sultan Abdul and the Temenggong signed a treatywith the British to build a settlement in southern Singapore • Sultan was paid an annual allowance of 5000 Spanish dollars and Temenggong 3000 Spanish dollars • Reactions of the Dutch and the Dutch East India Company • -Dutch protested and EIC directors and British government were angry with Raffles • The Dutch claimed that Singapore indirectly belonged to them. • British were afraid not to anger the Dutch as Holland was important inwar against hostile European countries as a buffer state. • British had learnt a lesson from the Napoleonic Wars in Europe that astrong enemy country like France could use Holland as a base tolaunch a military attack on Britain. • Dutch did not want to anger Britain as Holland was financially crippled during the Napoleonic wars, the Dutch did not want to wage another war • They were on the verge on bankruptcy. Another war would cripple itseconomy. • The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 17 March 1824 was signed to make peace with each other, as they had nothing to gain from a war. • Malay Peninsula and Singapore under British sphere of influence • Indonesia was placed under Dutch- Dutch agreed to give Melaka in exchange for Bencoolen • Treaty with Sultan and Temenggong in August 1824 • British did not gain control of the island yet • The treaty had given the British rights to start a trading settlement inSingapore, but they only controlled the southern part of Singapore. • Singapore was still a territory controlled by a Malay ruler. • Dr. John Crawfurd, the second resident of Singapore was the one who made Singapore a British possession. • He signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein on 2 August 1824 in which the Sultan and the Temenggong handed the payment of larger sums of money than what they had previously received. • What did Farquhar do to get the settlement started? • -The day after Raffles had signed the treaty with Sultan Hussein andthe Temenggong, he left for Bencoolen where he was appointed the Lieutenant Governor Farquhar served as resident or the local ruler of the settlement and the commander of the British and Indian troops who were left behind Clearing the Jungle • The northern bank of Singapore River was filled with trees, bushesand tall grasses • Clear jungles to build attap huts for-Farquhar and men Defence • Soldiers built big guns facing the sea • Getting food for the settlers • People of Melaka sailed to Singapore in boats with poultry and fruits • Food was expensive • Getting people to come and trade • Farquhar invited settlers from Melaka to come • A British official was stationed on St. John’s Island was to invite ships to trade in Singapore Law and Order • Robbery fighting and murder took place often • A small police force was set up to restore peace and order • The police force was made up of mostly Indians and Malays, thus unable to communicate with the Chinese and their dialects. Pests • Rats and centipedes were everywhere • Farquhar gave money for getting rid of these pests and was successful • Rats could spread diseases and centipede bites are poisonous. Chapter 3: What part did the different immigrantcommunities play in Singapore’s development? • Why did the immigrants come to Singapore? • Push factors • Reasons why people came to Singapore becauseof unfavourable conditions in their homeland • Chinese: • Rapid population growth • which deprived people of living space due to overcrowding • Shortage of food • Natural disasters • War with foreigners- Weak Qing governmentMalays: • War in Java and Malaya- Piracy in Java and Malaya • This has threatened the trade and lives of the merchants whose shipswere seen in that region. Thus in order to safe keep their lives and property, merchants decided to come to Singapore. Indians: • Rapid population growth • Shortage of food and jobs • Natural disasters such as droughts and famines. • Therefore in order to keep their lives, the immigrants have no choice but to flee to a safe place Europeans/British: • Need of markets for goods • - British companies set up branches in Singapore Pull factors • Benefits of coming to Singapore (e.g. jobs,drinking water) • No restriction on immigration as the original population of the countrywas only a few orang lauts and fishermen. Thus in order to build up the economy and the country’s profile, there was no restriction onimmigration. • Good geographical location of Singapore as they were situatedbetween 2 trading giants, India and China which made it suitable as astopover point for traders to trade and refuel and replenish foodsupplies. • Better jobs and opportunities for trade • Peace and Stability • Free port status where traders