WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

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• In 1819, Singapore was said to be a sleepy fishing village.

• In the years before, Singapore was a trading entity of some sort.

• Some even claim it was a great kingdom.

• How did these different views come to exist?• How can we make sense of these points of

view?

Key S

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Key S

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• Available sources not specific and not authoritative.

• Hence, it is up to historians to try to piece together a logical picture of the events and life in pre-1819 Singapore using the different available sources.

• How is this possible given the different views?

• Key skill 2 -Reliability:– The suitability of a source to be depended

upon to prove/disprove something.

• Historians need to be able to evaluate the reliability of a source to decided on how a source can be used.

Key S

kills

Key S

kills • Key skill 1 -Inference:

– The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

• We can make inferences, from the various sources, but can we trust them?

• Do the sources prove anything?

What is aWhat is a RELIABLE RELIABLE source?source?

A reliable source is one in which there is consistencyconsistency of theauthor's account of the truth &the truthtruth--telling is verifiabletelling is verifiable

was written long afterthe events it describes

was producedfor a particularpurpose which

might affectits reliability

contains factualerrors /

exaggerations / distortions

(i.e. verifiablyfalse versions

of events)

is inconsistentwith similar sources

shows biasof the writer

Unreliablesource

What makes a sourceWhat makes a sourceUNRELIABLEUNRELIABLE??

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View of the Sejarah Melayu: A Great Trading

Port

“Singapura became a great city, to which foreigners arrived in great numbers so that the fame of the city and its greatness spread throughout the world.”Page 4 Textbook

• Sejarah Melayu: • Claims that Singapore was a

thriving trade centre under Sang Nila Utama.

• Attracted the attention of the Majapahit and resulted in war.

• Subsequently, the ruler fled and founded Melaka.

• Sejarah Melayu is a literary work.• Main purpose was to trace the

origins of Malay royalty.• Collection of myths mixed with

fact, e.g. Badang.• Written after the fall of the Malacca

Sultanate.• Do you believe this source? Why?

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View of the Wang Dayuan:

A Great Trading Port

“ Temasik has become a great and famous place visited by large numbers of foreigners. There were some Chinese settlers in Temasik.” Page 5 Textbook

• Chinese merchant from Yuan China

• Dao Yi Zhi Lue (Description of the Barbarians of the Isles)

• Invaluable record of Chinese overseas

• Reported on Longyamen (Dragon’s Teeth Gate) and Dan-ma-xi (Temasek)

• Exotic, famous, frequently visited by traders, Chinese settlers and piracy.

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• Scanty and ambiguous.• Lack of verification with other sources.• No mention of Temasek after 14th century.• Temasek and Singapore really the same place?• Was the mapping accurate?• Is this source reliable to tell you about the early history of Singapore?

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View of the Wang Dayuan:

A Great Trading Port

“ Temasik has become a great and famous place visited by large numbers of foreigners. There were some Chinese settlers in Temasik.” Page 5 Textbook

• Chinese merchant from Yuan China

• Dao Yi Zhi Lue (Description of the Barbarians of the Isles)

• Invaluable record of Chinese overseas

• Reported on Longyamen (Dragon’s Teeth Gate) and Dan-ma-xi (Temasek)

• Exotic, famous, frequently visited by traders, Chinese settlers and piracy.

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View of the Wang Dayuan:

A Great Trading Port

• Scanty and ambiguous.• Lack of verification with other sources.• No mention of Temasek after 14th

century.• Temasek and Singapore really the same place?• Was the mapping accurate?• Is this a reliable source to tell you about the early history of Singapore?

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Portuguese Historians

• Attempt to chart the history of the region prior to their conquest of Malacca.

•However, there is valuable information about Parameswara and his connection with Singapore which is also verified in the Sejarah Melayu.

•Primary focus not on Singapore.

•Attempt to justify the Portuguese conquest of Malacca?

Archaeological Digs: Fort Canning, Parliament House,

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• Archaeological evidence indicative that a trading entity existed as early as the 14th Century.

• Singapore was most likely part of the Srivijaya empire.

• Decline of Srivijaya empire led to Singapore becoming autonomous and existed in a neutral buffer zone.

• Possibly a transhipment point for the China-India trade.

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• Between 14th to 19th Century:• Arrival of Parameswara in 1388 a

prince from Palembang.• According to Portuguese historians,

he murdered his host and took over as the ruler.

• Parameswara driven out by Majapahit or Siam and founded Malacca.

• Does this sound familiar?• Parameswara and Sang Nila Utama

really the same person?

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• Between 14th to 19th Century:• Singapore later became part of the

Malacca Sultanate.• In 1511, Singapore became part of

the Johore Sultanate.• 1613 – burnt down by the

Portuguese.• Insignificant role until 1819.

• New sources of information allow historians to piece together new interpretations of the past.

• Importance of historical sources and archaeological research.

• Early history of Singapore:– Despite the different accounts,

Singapore was a thriving trading entity.

SUM

SUM--U

PUP