How connected was

early Singapore to
the Region and the
World?
The rise and fall of Temasek
Unit 1, Chapter 1
 Table of contents

01 02 03 04
Big Rise of Decline of Singapore’s
Concepts Temasek Temasek Chronology
“Connections”, Founded by Invaded in 1389, Singapore
“Trade”, Sang Nila declined by early before 1819
“Entrepot” Utama in 1299* 15th century
 01
Big Concepts
“Connections”,
“Trade”, “Entrepot”
Any examples? Based on what
you already know in your
everyday life!

What do you know

about “connections”?
Big numbers catch your audience’s attention

How can we connect?

In what way?
“Connections” Rise of
as a concept Temasek
Early
Singapore
 Need for Entrepot!
1. Entrepot: a centre for the collection and distribution of
goods.
2. Historically referred to as a port city, where merchandise
may be imported, stored, or traded before re-export.
3. In the past, entrepots enabled merchants to utilize part of a
trade route to sell their goods without having to bear the
risks and costs associated with long-distance travel over the
entire route.
Read Textbook Pg. 23

What happens
when the
Srivijaya Empire
collapses?
 02
The Rise of
Temasek
 What led to Temasek’s rise? (p.16-24)
Geographical The fall of Srivijaya
Advantages (p.22) Empire (p.23-24)

What is it?
What are the impacts
on Temasek?
(Provide historical
details)

Why was this

important to
Temasek’s rise?
 1(a) Geographical
Advantages
- Located on the southern tip of
the Malay Peninsula, along the
Straits of Melaka Scan to watch video
- For ships sailing between India
and China, the Straits of Melaka
was the quickest route
- This reduced the amount and
cost of supplies they needed
(food and water) as well as the
risk of pirate attacks and
accidents.
Extract from Daoyi Zhilue, Wang Dayuan, 1349
"Indigenous products include very fine
hornbill casques, lakawood of moderate
quality and cotton. The goods used in trade
are red gold, blue satin, cotton prints, Chu
porcelain, iron cauldrons and suchlike things.
Neither fine products nor rare objects come
from here. All are obtained from trade with
Quan Zhou traders…The inhabitants are
addicted to piracy. The natives and Chinese
dwell side by side. Most [of the natives]
gather their hair into a chignon, and wear
short cotton bajus girded about with black
cotton sarongs."
 1(b) Geographical
Advantages
- Located strategically to take
advantage of monsoon winds
- If sailing ships in the 14th century
caught the monsoons at the right
time, the strong monsoon winds
empower them to complete their
voyages quickly.

- Consider: are monsoon winds as

important/crucial for trade today?
 (2) Fall of
Srivijaya Empire
- Srivijaya was a powerful Southeast
Asian maritime empire, with a
strong navy that suppressed piracy
and made trade in the region safe.
- From the 11th century onwards,
Srivijaya began to decline due to
invasions from the Chola Kingdom
(south India), the Siamese
(present-day Thailand) and
Majapahit, which was based in
Java
 (2) Fall of
Srivijaya Empire
- The decline of Srivijaya meant
that there was now a power
vacuum, with traders looking for
new ports to conduct their trade.
- As a result, trade shifted
northwards from Palembang, and
ports, such as Temasek,
benefitted from the additional
trade.
(3) Who/what led to Temasek’s rise?
"To construct a wall, a permanent defensive work, the
inhabitants (of Temasik) required a degree of cooperation
and centralised direction. This level of sociopolitical
integration is beyond that of a simple society with no
bureaucratic institutions. It requires a polity able to mobilise
resources for the common good, in other words, a
leadership structure. Possession of a wall marks 14th-
century Temasik as unusual for its time."
An extract from "Temasik to Singapura: Singapore in the
14th to 15th Centuries", written by John Miksic, a
prominent archaeologist, in 2010.
(3) Leadership of Sang Nila Utama
"To construct a wall, a permanent defensive work, the
inhabitants (of Temasik) required a degree of cooperation
and centralised direction. This level of sociopolitical
integration is beyond that of a simple society with no
bureaucratic institutions. It requires a polity able to mobilise
resources for the common good, in other words, a
leadership structure. Possession of a wall marks 14th-
century Temasik as unusual for its time."
An extract from "Temasik to Singapura: Singapore in the
14th to 15th Centuries", written by John Miksic, a
prominent archaeologist, in 2010.
(4) Who/what led to Temasek’s rise?
"The Orang Laut possessed navigational expertise and
knowledge of the region's waterways. It was this intimate
knowledge of the Malay maritime realm that made the
Orang Laut indispensible to the success of Temasek.
Although the Orang Laut was tied to the raja through pacts
of loyalty, their support was premised on the raja's
leadership abilities.”
An extract from “Socio-Political Structure, Membership
and Mobility in the Pre-Modern Malay World: The case
of Singapore in the 14th Century", written by Derek
Heng, a prominent Singaporean historian, in 2013.
(4) Expertise of the Orang Laut
"The Orang Laut possessed navigational expertise and
knowledge of the region's waterways. It was this intimate
knowledge of the Malay maritime realm that made the
Orang Laut indispensible to the success of Temasek.
Although the Orang Laut was tied to the raja through pacts
of loyalty, their support was premised on the raja's
leadership abilities.”
An extract from “Socio-Political Structure, Membership
and Mobility in the Pre-Modern Malay World: The case
of Singapore in the 14th Century", written by Derek
Heng, a prominent Singaporean historian, in 2013.
 03
The Decline of
Temasek
 What does it mean to be
“increasingly insignificant”?

Explain why did Temasek become

increasingly insignificant as a
trading center by the 15th
century?
Read Textbook pages 30-32 and find 3
points/reasons to answer the question
 Sejarah Suma
Melayu Oriental

Iskandar Shah Parameswara

Killed his wife Killed the

(Sang Ranjuna current King of
Tapa’s Singapore
daughter)

Invaded by Invaded by
Majapahit Siam
What are the differences
in the two accounts? Commissioned by Account by
Johor sultanate in Portuguese doctor,
the mid-17th Tomé Pires (lived in
century Melaka in 1512-1515)
Why did Temasek become increasingly insignificant by the 15th century?
External threats and invasions led to Temasek becoming
What is it? increasingly insignificant by the 15th century
Any • The Portuguese Suma Oriental recounts that Parameswara killed the King
of Temasek and this angered the King of Siam, who was the father-in-law
historical of the murdered king [; because Temasek was a vassal of Siam]
details? • so the King of Siam attacked and invaded Temasek
• In the Malay Annals/Sejarah Melayu, it is said Parameswara killed
his wife, who was the daughter of one of his top ministers
• so the minister wrote to the Majapahit empire for help and
Majapahit sent troops to attack Temasek
• The accounts differ but both mention invasions on by foreign powers
• These invasions meant that Temasek was severely weakened
How did • Most importantly, they led to the current rulers fleeing from and
this lead to abandoning Temasek, and later setting up port cities elsewhere in the
Temasek’s Malay Peninsula
• As a result, trade activities moved away from Temasek, and it
decline?
became more insignificant as a trading port in the region
Why did Temasek become increasingly insignificant by the 15th century?

External threats and invasions led to Temasek becoming

What is it? increasingly insignificant by the 15th century.

Based on the Suma Oriental, Parameswara’s act of killing the King

Any of Singapore angered the King of Siam, who was the father-in-law
of the King of Singapore. The King of Siam then decided to attack
historical and invade Singapore. Although the Sejarah Melayu’s account
details? differs from the Suma Oriental, it nonetheless retells that early
Singapore was invaded by a foreign power (the Majapahit Empire).

These invasions meant that Temasek was severely weakened. Most

How did importantly, they led to the current rulers fleeing from and
this lead to abandoning Temasek, choosing to seek out and set up port cities
Temasek’s elsewhere in the Malay Peninsula. As a result, trade activities
decline? moved away from Temasek, and Temasek became more
insignificant as a trading port in Southeast Asia.
 Based on the
video, what led
to Temasek’s
decline?

What evidence
can we draw
from this video?
Why did Temasek become increasingly insignificant by the 15th century?
Climate changes led to Temasek becoming increasingly
What is it? insignificant by the 15th century
• According to historian João de Barros, Temasek was referred to as Falsa
Demora, meaning “the wrong or tricky place to interrupt one’s voyage”
Any • He further added that “the main reason due to which the city became
historical totally depopulated was the path of the storms”
• These strong winds, known today as “Sumatra Squalls”, blew at 70km/h
details?
• Even ships in Temasek’s ports, if met with such “intense tempests”,
would perish
• This change in climate meant that ships could no longer dock safely in
How did Temasek in order to conduct trade or as a layover port in their voyage
this lead to • Since their goods and lives were at risk, traders sought out a different
Temasek’s port
decline? • As a result, traders stopped coming to Temasek and it lost its
significance as a trading port in the region
Read pages 30 -
32.

How would the

founding of
Melaka affect
Temasek?
Why did Temasek become increasingly insignificant by the 15th century?
The founding of Melaka led to Temasek becoming increasingly
What is it? insignificant by the 15th century
• Parameswara escaped to Melaka and with the help of his ‘loyal navy’ of
Any Orang Laut, he was able to set up a new port there
historical • He also established diplomatic and commercial ties with China – by
sending tributes - which helped to protect Melaka from Siamese and
details? Majapahit attacks, as well as increase trade with China
• [Ming princess Hang Li Po was married to Sultan Mansur Shah in the
mid-15th C – evidence of close diplomatic relations]
• With peace and more trade [Chinese goods were very popular], Melaka
quickly became popular and prosperous
• Though Temasek continued to serve as a feeder port and collection
How did
centre [for Melaka], Melaka overtook it in terms of volume of
this lead to trade
Temasek’s • As a result, Temasek did not play as important a role in regional
decline? trade as in the previous century
 04
Temasek’s
Chronology
Year Event
1299 • According to the Malay Annals, the kingdom of Singapura was founded by Sang Nila
Utama, a prince of Srivijaya – it lasted till 1398
1320 • The Mongol court sent a mission to obtain elephants from Dragon's Tooth Gate
1330 • Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan visited Temasek and recorded an attack by Siam
1398 • Parameswara, the last Srivijayan prince, fled from Temasek to Melaka
1414 • Parameswara established the Sultanate of Melaka
• Temasek became part of the Sultanate of Melaka
1511 • 15 Aug: Melaka fell after being sacked by Portugal led by Alfonso de Albuquerque
• The Malay rulers established the Johor Sultanate, with Temasek as the naval base
1613 • Portuguese burnt down the trading outpost at the mouth of the Singapore River
1641 • 14 Jan: Portuguese Melaka fell to the Dutch
1700s • Dutch controlled Melaka, set up base in Batavia and built ties with the Johor Sultanate
• The Johor Sultanate moved their capital to Riau-Lingga
• Temasek was ‘bypassed’ by traders, overtaken by Riau and Batavia
• Riau destroyed by the Dutch in 1784
1819 • Raffles and Farquhar arrived at Singapura
• British recognized Tunku Long/Hussein as the legitimate ruler
The Longue Duree of Singapore History
• Chart the RISE and FALL of Temasek • What can you infer from 1613
• Link the events to the Rise and Fall the big historical map? The Portuguese burnt
down a trading
1389 1511 settlement in Singapura

1641
Invasion by Siam Fall of Melaka to
1299 & Majapahit the Portuguese
The Dutch defeated
Founding by the Portuguese and
Sang Nila took over Melaka
Utama
Srivijaya fell
They shifted their
base to Batavia
1819
during the 1400 Raffles arrived
in Singapore
attacks of Chola Founding
of Melaka
1528 1699
Trade between China reduced
Founding of the
Johor Sultanate
The Johor Sultanate
shifted their capital 1784
to Riau-Lingga and Riau was
SEA/Temasek trade with SEA due by the Melakan
Bintan became an destroyed by
and China to internal issues rulers
emporium the Dutch

1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800

14th C 15th C 16th C 17th C 18th C 19th C
 Timeline Summary
1402 - 1511 From 1497 1528 - 1613 From 1619
Melaka rose in European Johor rose in
Dutch founded
power; expansion into power;
Batavia, trade
connections to Africa/Americas/ connections to
shifted away from
China, Islamic Asia Europe, China,
Johor
world, Europe India
Singapore Portuguese Singapore
Singapore became
insignificant invasion led to fall significant as
increasingly
(except for Orang of Melaka in 1511 gateway to Johor
insignificant again
Laut) River

TB 30-32; TB 33-34; TB 36;

TB 37, Source QR
Sources A - H Sources E, I, J Sources L -P
 Singapore Narrative
• We commemorated the bicentennial in 2019
o Which means the founding by the British in 1819 is not
only of great significance but considered the start of the
country’s history
o IS THIS NARRATIVE VALID?
▪ May not be totally invalid
• Then the 500 years that preceded British arrival?
o It is now confirmed that pre-1819 Singapore was a busy
and important port and not a sleepy fishing village
• The colonial perspective-narrative was carried over to the nation-building process
o History is written for/by . . . ?
• The existence of SNU and his founding of Temasek are not yet proven
o except what is written in the Malay Annals so this part of the story may be a . . . ?
o Myth/legend - what purpose does this serve?