Friday, 26 September 2014

WHAT WAS SINGAPORE LIKE BEFORE 1819?



                                                            INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our blog! This is 104's group 6 work. These are the sources that we have taken from our field trip to the National History Museum and Fort Canning.This sources are about Singapore's connections with the world before the early 19 century.Under each aspect, there are inferences made related to the pictures.
      What was Singapore like before 1819?  

                                          HI GROUP 6



Social and Cultural Connection

 -Singapore had cultural connections with India as a pair of earring and a gold armlet, engraved with the design of the Hindu god, Kala, was found at Fort Canning hill showing that cultural exchange had taken place between Singapore and India. Therefore, Singapore had cultural connections with India.

 -Singapore had social connections with Malaysia-Sumatra-West-Java and Thailand.  This was done so through trading untempered ware which was probably imported from Thailand and decorated earthenware from the Malaysia-Sumatra-West-Java. Therefore, Singapore had social connections with Thailand and Malaysia-Sumatra-West-Java.


Gold armlet and a pair of earrings engraved with the Hindu
god Kala.









Political Connection

I can infer that Singapore had political connections with Java and Siam. When Siam attacked and conquered Singapore around 1330, a political connection was formed through Siam conquering Singapore. I can also infer that Singapore had a weaker army than Siam. Therefore, Singapore had political connections with Java and Siam.
Download
The Singapore Stone
Background information about the ancient history of Singapore

Economic Connection

-        - I can infer that economic connections were formed between China and Singapore before 1819 through trade. The Chinese porcelain along the Singapore River near Empress Place  was left by Chinese traders when they came to Singapore to carry out trade with the local  traders in Singapore. Therefore, economic connections were formed with China when  traders from China came to trade with the local traders in Singapore.

     - I can infer that Singapore was a thriving and busy trading centre in the region in the 14th century. Before 1819, traders from China and many other parts of the world came to trade items in Singapore such as stoneware. Therefore, this shows that Singapore was a thriving and busy port in the 14th century.



   
Chinese porcelain

Stoneware







                                                              CONCLUSION 


Hope that you have learnt more about Singapore's early past and the three different connections - Political, Economic and Social/Cultural between Singapore and the world up to the 19th century.Hope you know Singapore's past much better and would be more interested about Singapore's history.Thank you!

DONE BY: Yu Xin, Hir, Juhi and Fathin