What was Singapore like before 1819?

What was Singapore like before 1819?

Early Singapore was wealthy as it was ruled by rich countries and  traders were brought to Singapore to trade easily by the monsoon winds, hence trading could happen between Singapore and other countries such as China and Malaysia, so Singapore became a wealthier country through trading of goods. 

Here are the three key points we have came up with:

1.Early Singapore was rich as it had good political connection with other countries through marriage and being ruled by other countries.

The sources we chose are the imported earthenware, which picture is taken at Fort Canning, on 25/02/14 and the Sejarah Melayu, taken from Singapore: A 700-Year History From Early Emporium to World City, Kwa C.G. , Heng D.H. , Tan T.Y..

We chose the imported earthenware as it tells us that a ruler of Singapore was married to a Malay Princess from Southern Thailand, therefore, there is a political connection with Southern Thailand through marriage.

We also chose the Sejarah Melayu as it records a Javanese Invasion of Singapore and there was political connection between the Javanese and Singapore as the Javanese people might  have ruled Singapore 

The results suggests that these artefacts were probably imported to Singapore from southern Thailand. According to early Portuguese accounts, a 14th century ruler of Singapore was married to a Malay princess from that area.

2. Early Singapore had economic connections with other countries like China and Malaysia since there was trading with these countries. 

The sources we chose are the Early Blue and white porcelain found at Fort Canning, the picture was taken at Fort Canning on 25/02/14 and gold ornaments, glass beads, glass globules, source from history textbook: making of a Nation-State, 1200-1975 Secondary 1.

We chose the early blue and white porcelain as it tells us that there was trading ongoing in the 14th century between Singapore and China, since the blue and white porcelain ware originated from China, therefore there was economic between Singapore and China.

We chose the gold ornaments, glass beads, glass globules as these sources were found in Singapore but were originated from Malaysia and the gold ornaments that has been dated to the mid 14th century and has the design or Kala the Hindu God, which suggested that there was trade ongoing with Malaysia, explaining the founding of artifacts, therefore there is economic connection between Malaysia and Singapore.

Early Blue and white porcelain 
Some of the most interesting ceramics found at the Fort Canning include porcelains decorated with underglaze cobalt blue designs. This general type of porcelain only become popular in the early 14th century ; its origins are not well documented . It seems to have become popular outside China before it was common in China. Some of the best collections are found in the middle east where early islamic rulers develop an early liking for it . The designs from Fort Canning can serve as a guide to the objects found on other sites.

Many of the Fort Canning blue and white sherds are rims of small bowl or cups. Their range of designs is relatively limited: floral or "classic" scrolls or rarely diapers or lozenges on the inner rims and floral scrolls with lotus panels on the exterior and interior base. A very similar example found in Damascus has been given a date in the second quarter of the 14th century.  Unusual shapes include pieces of a large cover and two thin-walted jarlets with very fine brushwork designs, made in two sections and then luted together.

Blue and white porcelain

Glass globules:

Beside the discovery of gold ornaments in 1926 , the oldest visible remains of the past are the remains of the fort gate and the old British cemetery. The keramat or the old ceremonial grave of Iskandar Shah was also found here. He was supposedly the fifth ancient ruler of Temasek. Approximately 30,000 artefacts from the 14th century were recorded at the site. Glass beads form a large proportion of these artefacts.

In 1926 , a collection of gold ornaments, including the gold armlet above, was discovered at For Canning Hill. These ornaments have been dated to the mid-14th century. This armlet has the design of Kala, the Hindu God representing time and destruction.

3. Life in early Singapore was easy because the monsoon winds brought traders to Temasek to trade.

The source we chose is a source from the History Textbook: Singapore, Making of a Nation-State, 1300-1975. Secondary one. Page 60.

We chose this source because it shows that traders can come to Singapore to trade, mostly during June to September, when the southwest monsoons transported traders from countries west of the Indian Ocean to Singapore.

Souce:

Temasek became an important entrepot and meeting point for traders. This was because temasek experienced Monsoons at different times of the year. Monsoon winds enabled traders to sail from their countries to different parts of Asia.

Between the months of June and September, the Southwest monsoon transported traders from countries west of the Indian Ocean to Temasek. Between the months of October and Febraury, the northeast monsoon transported traders home from Temasek.