Chapter 2 – In the Beginning – The Lion City

2 different recounts of the birth of Singapore

Who / Year How it started When the reign ended Why he left

Sejarah Melayu

Seri Teri Buana, Prince of Palembang / 1299

Decided to stay after he saw the merlion and renamed Temasek as Singapura

After 5 generations / 1396

Last king, Iskandar Shah betrayed by his official who opened the gates for invading Javanese forces

Portuguese recounts

Parameswara, Prince of Palembang / 1392

Fled Majapahit forces despatched to crush the rebellion he staged

After 4 years / 1396

Assassinated host who welcomed him. Fled the ensuing Thai forces set to avenge for the dead ruler

Important Questions: Instead of arguing the authenticity of either accounts, it is more important to understand why they have come to be written the way they have been written i.e. Social Memory VS History

Seri Teri Buana’s renaming the island to Singapura was less because he sighted a lion but more to assert that this was where he intended to re-establish the “lion-throne”, the seat he and his consort sat on for rituals in Palembang. Fort Canning also served as an ideal symbolic representation to relocate his “lion-throne”. Hence, Singapura was a major chapter in the transmission of the divine genealogy from Palembang to Singapura to Melaka and finally to Johor.

For Parameswara, Singapura was important as it was his refuge from the avenging Majapahit forces.

Ultimately, courses of events forced both Seri Teri Buana’s descendents and Parameswara to decamp Singapura and seek a new location to rebuild their vision of establishing a new emporium that would continue the legacy of Srivijaya.

This foundational myth would be used by Sultan Madmud’s descendents in 1511 where they attempt to re-establish the glory of Melaka and Srivijaya. In 1819, Tengku Hussein would also hope to inherit the legacy of Melaka and Srivijaya with this tale.

Chapter 3 – The Lure of the Chinese Market

Year 14th Temasek Region China990 宋 lifted ban though trade

still highly controlled1079 Malayu at Jambi became premier

emporium in the Melaka Straits1087- 1090

From small volume, high value exotic goods to large volume, low value mundane goods

Chinese vessels permitted to go on overseas voyages

1127 Temasek one of many ports in the region that emerged to serve Chinese traders

Srivijaya loses chief enterpot port position

Expansion of maritime trade and growth of coastal cities under Soong Dynasty

1275 According to Daoyi Zhilue, Temasek specialised in hornbill, lakawood and cotton. Temasek served as a trading hub for a regional hinterland

Jambi, capital of Srivijaya, sacked by invasion forces. Port-settlements mushroomed along Melaka Straits

1279 Yuan Dynasty encourages maritime trade

1299 Seri Teri Buana arrives1330s Wang Dayuan arrives in Singapore

and records a Thai invasion that was thwarted by a Chinese mission

1368 Temasek ceded to Melaka in return for annual fixed payment of gold. Temasek’s existence as autonomous port-settlement came to an end

Prince from Palembang secured sole rights to conduct trade with Ming court, Melaka became the key port of call

Zhu Yuanzhang overthrows Yuan Dynasty and reinstates trade ban

Important Notes:Temasek’s ability to function as a port that offered several select products to the Asian market was not due entirely to the richness in Singapore’s natural resources. While a portion of the hornbill casques and lakawood could be harvested from the island, it is likely that most of these products were obtained from surrounding area which were rich sources of foreign products.

Temasek also functioned as a collection centre and export getaway for products obtained from the immediate area. As the only port located at the southern end of the Melaka Straits, Termasek appears to have functioned as the collection centre and export getaway of south Johor and the Riau Archipelago. Archaeological evidence confirms this close economic ties between the two nations.

Important Questions:

Globalization?

Chapter 4 – Reconstructing the Lion City

2 settlement areas in 14th-century Temasek

Fort Canning Hill Main settlement AreaWhere North Bank of the Singapore RiverWho

inhabitedRoyal family, ruling family

What is it used for

Centre of ritual and political activities in Temasek Location of main settlements and economic activities of Temasek

How did it looked

like

- Artisan Quarters Lower east slope of hill is the artisan and servants quarters; high concentration of glass fragments, beads, ceramic moulds suggest glass- and jewellery-making

- Religious site Higher up east slope, lies remains of a building foundation of religious significance; non-perishable materials were used for the construction

- Royal abode On the northern slope near the summit of the hill was an impressive terrace site likely used to house the ruling family

- Restricted Space Royal garden and palace on the hill’s eastern and northern slope were inaccessible to commoners due to salt marches to the west and forest up north

- Boundaries / Defence The royal residency is likely to have a perimeter defence and there is likely to have spatial demarcation to mark out the functions of the spaces

Archaeological findings in new Parliament House, Empress Place, Colombo Court Site, Singapore Cricket Club and St. Andrew’s Cathedral revealed:

- Earthenware Water containers and cooking pots were mostly made in Singapore.

- Coarse Stoneware Ceramics Storage jars and bottles were entirely imported from aboard. Most likely used to store foodstuff or other smaller ceramic pieces to be carried around

- Fine Stoneware and Porcelain Ceramics were product of kilns in Guangdong and Fujian. Yuan period blue and white porcelain were also recovered

- Metal Finds Copper coins minted during Song period with several minted in Yuan. No coins post-date Yuan. Yuan used paper currency extensively and in Ming, Singapore was no longer an autonomous port

Evidence

This form of religious architecture was fairly common throughout island Southeast Asia in the classical periodArchaeologists unearthed rare and valuable Chinese ceramics; flexible gold armlets of Javanese-inspired designs near Fort Canning site

- Occurrence of iron and copper finds only at New Parliament House site suggests metal smelting and working concentrated there

- Large quantities of storage jar shards from Empress Place and Old Parliament House suggest unloading of trade goods off ships and location of storage facilities

- Higher concentration of copper coins at New Parliament House, Singapore Cricket club and St. Andrew’s Cathedral suggests trade conducted further inland, away from the harbour and warehouses

Important Questions:

Chapter 5 – Singapura: Outpost of the Melaka and Johor Kingdom

Singapura Region1402 Singapura comes under Melaka Sultanate. Acts as the home

base of the Orang Laut, warriors of the Melaka sultansParameswara establishes Kingdom of Melaka

1511 Melaka falls to the Portuguese1528 Last sultan of Melaka establishes Johor

Sultanate up the Johor River1530 Orang Laut chief defends Singapura against Portuguese

attacksSeries of Portuguese attacks on Johor Sultanate

Chapter 6 – Contesting the Waters around Singapore

Context: Straits of Melaka and Sunda Straits the only two channels connecting the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. Control of the waters around Singapore would have accorded control, security & economic benefits to the power that was able to project that strategic capability.

Build-up: As early as 1620s, Ming had the detailed recorded navigational know-how through the Keppel Straits

Portuguese Dutch1568 New passage way around Singapore was discoveredLate 16th Set up a base at MelakaEarly 17th New passageway through waters of Singapore was public knowledge. Everyone that had a vested

interest in ensuring that they establish & maintain strategic control over the passages that traversed this area contested for the region

Portugal Dutch / VOC Aceh Johor SultanatePortugal ally herself with Aceh in early 16th century

Local rivalry between Aceh and Johor Sultanate. Aceh wanted to overtake Johor & establish herself as the dominant port-polity in Melaka Straits. Aceh launched a series of attacks on the Johor Sultanate

VOC allies with Johor as it was at war with Portugal in the Eighty-year warSeized Santa Catarina which brought riches to the seizers

Both wanted a fort in Singapore for different reasonsPortugal for security over her trading ships; Dutch for a base to mount raids on Portuguese ships

Unhappy with peace treaty, attacked Batu Sawar (Johor) in 1613, captured VOC agents

Sceptical of idea of Dutch military presence in Meleka Signed peace treaty with Portugal

After 1614 attack, Dutch revived plans for a fort in Singapore, BUTPreferred Sunda over Melaka after 1614 attack exposed Singapore’s vulnerabilityDutch control over Sunda & NW Java was more secureIncreased focus on Batavia (Jakarta)

Focus on JapanJapan closed off in 1639

Continuous hostilities against Portugal undermined her presence in SEADutch captured Melaka1667, cut Portugal empire in SEA

AftermathSouthward shift of strategic maritime link: Sunda and Java became strategic because the Dutch was in control of the waters of the region. They dictated the trade through the region and it drove Singapore into oblivion for 200 years

After 4-way tussle, there was a realization by all powers that fortifications and permanent naval presence was crucial for ensuring the safety of their mercantile shipping and economic interests in the region. Trade VS Defence

1213SEM1

In 1603, with the help of the Johor Sultanate, the Dutch attacked the Portuguese vessel, Santa Catarina, as it was entering the waters off Singapore. With this the Portuguese lost a vast fortune and it was a great victory for the Dutch. Imagine you are an advisor to the Johor Sultan; give an assessment of this event in terms of the power struggle taking place for the waters around Singapore. [25 marks]

1112SEM2

Two historians are debating Singapore’s history of the 1600s. One scholar exclaims, “It was a golden age because Singapura was so hotly contested by European and local powers!” Meanwhile, the other scholar retorts, “NO! It was a black hole for Singapore’s history! Nothing happened on the island!” How would you mediate this dispute?

1112SEM1

Imagine you are an agent for either the Portuguese Crown OR the VOC (Dutch East India Company) travelling through Southeast Asia in the 1600s. Write a report to your superiors giving a review of your allies and rivals in the Melaka Straits region. Include your assessment of Singapura as a trading centre. [25 marks]

1011SEM2

Explain how Singapore during the 15th-18th centuries was strategic to (a) the Johor kingdom and (b) the Portuguese and the Dutch. [25 marks]

Chapter 7 – Raffles and the Establishment of an East India Company Station on Singapore

Events leading to Singapore’s colonization:

EventBritain took over Dutch territories in Java & Melaka after Dutch loss to France in the war in Europe

1818 Raffles assigned to Sumartra as Lieutenant-Governor

28 Jan 1819 Raffles anchored off St John’s Island

6 Feb 1819 Treaty that gave British rights to set up a factory in exchange for money to Tengku Husain and Temenggong was signed

June 1819 Raffles signed further agreements with Tengku Husain and Temenggong that regularise the administration of the settlement, limiting their influence on SingaporeOct 1822

1 June 1824Crawfurd stopped all payments to Husain by alleging that agreements to pay Husain was not legitimate and Husain in return owed the East India Company money. In order to repay the debts, Crawfurd wanted Husain to sign a new treaty that gave up Husain’s power in the island

2 Aug 1824 New treaty signed

Raffles - Felt that Britain should not have returned Dutch territories after the war in Europe, saw the Dutch as allies in Europe but enemies in Asia

- Saw the need to fend off the threat posed by the Dutch to the East India Company in their Asian trade and wanted to establish a British port in Southeast Asia to combat Dutch presence in the region

- Was the catalyst for establishment of a British port in SingaporeBritain / East India Company

- Initially unwilling to compromise relations with Dutch who were allies in war against France

- Ultimately set up port to bolster defence for transoceanic route to archipelago and ChinaChinese Traders

- Was attracted to Singapore’s free trade as a more congenial port of trade than those of Dutch or other Sultans

- Kept Singapore going although Bengal administration was unwilling to bear the cost of running Singapore

Tengku Husain / Temenggong

- Husain was last legitimate successor to the throne. When his father died, he was in Pahang for his wedding, Bugis forces exploited this and made his younger brother Sultan

- Needed the treaty that recognized himself as the sultan which he lost to his brother- Made it possible for Raffles to justify his establishment of a British settlement in Singapore

Players leading to the establishment of colonial Singapore

Important Questions:

Individual heroes or part of a bigger canvas?

1112SEM1

Was it Raffles’ free trade policy alone that led to the flourishing of Singapore as a colonial entrepôt? Focus on the 1800s in your answer. [25 marks]

Local Agents: Raffles and Tengku Husain

Global forces: Dutch losing to France in Europe and Britain emerging as the top dog in naval might allowed Raffles to keep Singapore as a British port without the Dutch hostilities; Dutch port in Batavia was poorly managed, made Raffles’ free trade policy successful

Chapter 8 – The Port-City and its Trading Networks

Raffles’ free trade/immigration policy signalled the start of immigration. Singapore was ONCE AGAIN a global city because many trade networks were indigenous and were revitalised because of Raffles’ policies. Singapore was once again a bustling Global City

Raffles’ immigration policies also continued the multi-cultural population in Singapore. As communities are drawn together by different strands of commercial networks, their social organisation and political orientation reflect their diverse origins

Malay & SEA Trade

- Bugis were the main carrier of Straits products in early 19th century - They grew unhappy with the Dutch at Riau and had a conflict. Following which, Farquhar

welcomed them and the Bugis in Singapore pulled in the Bugis trade- Malays, however, were not used to British set-up and felt alienated. Their traditional style of

paying tributes/taxation was opposite to the British’s free trade in Singapore- Singapore, would however, become the centre of Malay intellectual life and politics. Many

camps with opposing sentiments towards the British were borne. Chinese

- Early 19th century, Batavia was the only port Chinese could trade in, though Dutch-controlled ports were unattractive because of Dutch antagonism to the Chinese, prevalent persecution of Chinese and heavy import and export duties making Batavia unpopular among the Chinese

- Development of Singapore as a commercial centre saw significant growth in Chinese population where many came as prostitutes and coolies Secret societies grew out of banding together

- Straits Chinese had the ability to speak English & Malay became natural middleman- Chinese community generally good at taking care of themselves despite secret societies because

mayhem was bad for businessArab - First voyaged to Southeast Asian archipelago in search of Chinese luxury goods

- By 15th century, traders made full use of segmented trade arrangements and travelled halfway instead of all the way to China. Melaka became popular because of Islam’s conversion

- Looking to escape heavy custom dues imposed in Dutch controlled ports, Singapore came into picture and Raffles also encouraged them to settle in Singapore

- Arabs in Singapore are generally from powerful, influential and wealthy families- By 20th century, although numbers still small, the Arab community was powerful, owning huge

amounts of property, real estateIndians - Until 1873, Indians arrived as convicts transported to Singapore to serve their term

- Large-scale voluntary Indian migration began only in the second half of 19 th century but most were from lower caste Indians, not many Indian merchants came to set up business in first half of 19th though petty trades slowly showed up

- Indians found their niche operating credit & accounting services, Chettiars were especially successful, becoming major sources of financing for agriculturists in SEA

- Indian community exploited British imperial trade network and soon dominated textile trade- By 1930s, Singapore Indian community well-established, Indian Chamber of Commerce set-up

Maritime NetworkUp till 1923, Singapore was a trading port without a clearly defined hinterland that could only be reached by sea. The economic networks that sustained Singapore operated on an extended sea-lined foreland covering much of Indian Ocean and South China Sea. As a colonial port, Singapore’s trade was predominantly Asian. SEA accounted for a quarter, China 12%. Overland trade with SEA was insignificant, hence Singapore’s position between two oceans was more important than being on the southernmost tip of Asia.

1213SEM1

Tan Tock Seng was a Melaka-born Straits Chinese who made his fortune in Singapore through joint investments with the British. What characteristics of the Straits Chinese made them a successful community in colonial Singapore? [25 marks]

Chapter 9 – Staple Port and the Malayan Hinterland

Before 19th

centuryTin mining done by Malays who were reluctant to increase production to meet the rising demand

Chinese labourers went to Malaya following the founding of Pinang1819 English merchant Peter Durand came up with tin cans, demand of tin exploded with American civil

war in 1860s

1869 Opening of the Suez Canal

1874 In order to protect their investments in the tin industry in Malaya, British signed an order with Malay Sultans to establish first British resident for law and order

Peace and stability brought more investments and even more Chinese migration

1897 Henry Ridley found a way to tap rubber sap without hurting the trees

Early 20th

CenturyMotor car industry in United States exploded

Demand for rubber increased enormously 1905 Shipping industry developed to serve the new port-city , Colonial government assumed control and

development of the port to meet the increasing demand Tanjong Pagar Dock Ordinance began converting into Singapore Harbour Board

1911 Rubber association started to handle the sale of rubber in Singapore, Singapore developed into important player in the international rubber market

1912 Straits Trading Company became the largest tin-smelting company in the world1924 Road link between Malaya and Singapore opened, serving the tin, rubber and oil from the Northern

hinterland Colonial Singapore experienced early industrialisation as a result of the raw materials that

was coming from the North

Notes:

Industrialisation was not new to Singapore. Evidence of metal working dated from the 14 th century was found on the Singapore River bank. This meant that Temasek had already conducted tin-smelting as early as in the 14 th century

Important Questions:

1011SEM2

What is a staple port? What factors led to the development of Singapore from an entrepot port to a staple port during the 19th century? [25 marks]

Major events that took place in the different parts of the world contributed to Singapore’s success

Tin: Demand for tin in tin cans exploded due to the America Civil War (Global) Large scale Chinese immigration swamped into Malaysia, increasing production (Local) British’s interest in tin industry meant law and order, bringing peace and stability, further increasing production (Local) tin smelting in Singapore was developed

Rubber: A new way to tap the rubber sap from trees without hurting them (Global) US’s motor car industry exploded, demand for rubber increased enormously (Global) rubber processing line developed in Singapore

Chapter 10 – Fortress Singapore: Defending a Port-City and Empire

Proposed Defence / Motivations Results

1819 - 1827

Series of artillery batteries over the island with a major artillery fort on Pearl’s HillSingapore was worth defending in view of Dutch threat

- Britain in debt from administering expanding Indian empire, unable to fund the defences- Britain did not perceive the Dutch threat grave enough to improve defences

1843

Protect the entrance to Kallang River, New Harbour at Tanjong Pagar with series of artillery batteries and forts. In view of the opening up of China after the Opium War, Captain Best proposed to beef up defences in Singapore as part of a greater sea lane from Singapore to China.

Series of Artillery batteries & fortsVS

Naval squadron from BengalLocal merchants wanted batteries but were not willing to pay for it / Bengal argued that naval squadron was more effective

1878

Advent of steam ships, Suez Canal and telegraph brought the Empire “closer”. Small conflicts no longer local and could escalate into wider conflictsMajor McCullum propose strong naval fleet with secure chain of ports and coaling station as combat support

Fortification of Singapore carried out together with Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, etc.

1921

Far East Fleet to counter an emerging and hostile Japan, and also to protect interest in SEA and AustraliaImperial Conference reviewed and decided with only the construction of a naval base and not a Far East Fleet

Construction and fortification of Singapore started in 1923 and completed only in 1938

1945 -

Britain came out of WWII severely weakened but still had an empire to govern. She wanted to de-colonize and bring colonies under the “Commonwealth” umbrella, maintaining a certain influence over them

Saw Singapore as an important pivot to combat communism in the region

Britain increased defence in Singapore to maintain her military presence in the region

Important Questions:

Which is more important, balance of power or local defences?

1112SEM2

For Singapore, was being part of Britain’s Imperial defense strategy a benefit or a bane? Draw on two examples to support your argument.

1112SEM1

To what extent has being militarily strategic shaped Singapore’s history from the 20th Century? [25 marks]

1011SEM1

Explain how Singapore was important to the defence of both the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century and Southeast Asia during the Cold War. [25 marks]

Chapter 11 – The British “Grand Design”, Local Politics and the Formation of Malaysia

1959

PAP’s English educated members and Indian politicians appealed to workers and unions while Lee Chin Siong’s Chinese roots appealed to the China-born voters who had yet to shed their Chinese chauvinism. As such, PAP won the election against Lim Yew Hock’s Labour Front

Britain was unaware of LKY’s agenda behind LKY’s seemingly enigmatic choice of working with the communist despite PAP’s anti-communist ideology

Reasons for Merger Worries of Merger

PAP

Economic:- Create jobs for an increasing population- In order to sustain declining economy,

needed Malaya as a hinterland and Malaya’s consumer market to aid her weakening entrepot

- Without merger, Singapore was unable to rival neighbouring countries’ low production cost and bigger market

Politics:- Had to fulfil electoral promise of

delivering independence to Singapore which could only be achieved through merger

- FinancialSingapore wanted to collect all tax revenue within the island and pay an agreed amount to the central governmentMalaya wanted all tax revenue to be collected centrally and give Singapore what they needed

- CitizenshipSingapore was not comfortable with the possibility of relegating to second class citizens in Malaysia; citizenship rights were not ironed out

Malaya

- Prevent the defeated Malayan Communist Party from using Singapore as a springboard to mount a comeback

- Sweetener in Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo Although Borneo was unhappy, their complains were disregarded by Britain

- Chinese radicals in Singapore whose violent riots were well-documented

- Did not want to lose central control over Singapore after merger

Britain

- Favoured merger to keep communism in the region in check

- Has vested interest in Singapore in their established military base, hence did not want Singapore to turn to communism

Important Questions:

1213SEM1

In the period after World War II, there was a policy known as the British “Grand Design”. Explain how external factors influenced Singapore’s path from being a colony to gaining independence from the British in 1963.

1011SEM2

In the period after World War II, how did external factors influence Singapore’s path from being a colony to gaining independence from the British in 1963? [25 marks]

Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Cold War

Britain invested in Singapore to become their Far East base. They did not want infrastructure to fall into the hands of the communist hence they pushed for merger.

Chapter 12 – Separation

1954 - 1955

Number of Chinese riots and clashes including the Hock Lee Riots and Chinese students over the new National Service Ordinance

1959PAP won election with help from Left-Wing radicals Lim Chin Siong and Feng Swee Suan

Singapore granted self-governance by the British

May 1961 Tunku announced contemplation to bring Singapore, N Borneo, Brunei & Sarawak under Malaysia

Jul 1961 PAP loses second by-elections in Anson engineered by the Communist

Aug 1961 13 PAP rebels formed the Barisan Sosialis which opposed merger

Sep 1961 Broad agreements to the merger reached, working committees to be formed to iron out details of merger “before June 1963”

Sep 1962 Singaporeans vote for merger in the National Referendum

Feb 1963 Operation Coldstore arrests key left-wing and presumably pro-Communist leaders

Jul 1963 Final negotiations in London in search of compromise in financial arrangements & common market

Sep 1963New Federation of Malaysia with Singapore

PAP wins elections in Singapore despite UMNO’s participation

Nov 1964First Malaysian Budget unveiled, DPM Goh calculated that Singapore’s taxpayers contributed 39.8% of the budget even though it had 17% of the population of MalaysiaSingapore saw taxes on diesel oil and sugar

Jul 1964 Malay-Chinese race riots, Syed Ja’afar Albar flamed LKY on different mediums

Apr 1964 PAP registered as a Malaysian political party to run against the UMNO-led alliance and won one seat, threatening UMNO’s political position

Feb 1965 Initial talks on disengaging Kuala Lumpar from Singapore was stopped by Britain

May 1965In the inaugural Malaysian Solidarity Convention, LKY challenged UMNO’s policies for solving Malay’s poverty; argued for a Malaysian Malaysia where race does not play a part

Direct challenge to UMNO-led alliance that was split between racial lines

Jun 1965 Goh Keng Swee and Tun Razak held secret talks on separation without Britain knowing

Aug 1965 SEPARATION

After 1965

- Resumed industrialisation, welcoming FDI in Singapore that was restricted under Malaysia- Resumed Indonesian barter trade that was hindered by frosty Malaysia-Indonesian relations- Trade in traditional produce – tin, rubber and rice – gave way to trade in petroleum,

petroleum products, shipbuilding and services- Bank of China kept institutions in existence

1967 Sing dollars came into existence

Notes:

PAP proved that a multi-racial party was able to win communal votes if the party was competent and could deliver the goods.

Why they separated:

Ideological differences: Meritocracy VS Racial-defined system

Chapter 13 – Responding to Separation

Longue Duree Problems Respond / ResultsLack of Sense of Belonging

- Singapore has always been an immigration haven, population comprised of immigrants, descendants of immigrants who had been living and working within their respective ethnic groups

- Different groups of people with diverse language, historical and cultural background meant that they did not have a sense of belonging in Singapore

- People had no stake in Singapore

- Create a common identity, shared experience in WWII

- Espoused principles of Equality, Meritocracy, multiracialism and multiculturalism

- 1967, introduced NS, fostering sense of Nationhood

- Resettlement program offers cheap housing raising standard of living of Singaporeans tremendously, it also provided Singaporeans with a stake in the country

Small town Defence- Was very vulnerable fresh out of separation,

threats from Indonesian Konfrontation, Malaysia, etc intended to rely on British military presence but they withdrew in 1971

- Chinese country in a Malay region

- Deterrence is Singapore’s best form of defence poison shrimp – porcupine – dolphin

- 1971, ASEAN was established to serve the need for regional corporation in matters of foreign affairs

- Singapore befriended global powers like the USPowerful friends + Local defences

Entrepot trade susceptible to global swings- Singapore’s economy is one of a staple port

that supported the primary economy of a large rural hinterland In 14th, served Riau and Borneo Early 20th, served Malaysia

- In 1965, Malaysia’s trade barriers, Indonesia’s Sukarno administration and China’s Cultural Revolution made it impossible for Singapore to rely on the traditional economic pillars

- Enterpot trade was VERY susceptible to global trends

Manufacturing- Embraced colonial past and opened up to West- Import-substitution manufacturing for domestic

market to manufacturing for Western market- Education and training realigned to upgrade

economic productivity- Business-friendly labour laws passed

Financial Sector- Insurance, international banking corporations

encouraged to establish Asian base in SingaporeShipping

- Improved port and shipping capabilities

Results- By 1975, Singapore was the world’s 3rd busiest port- GDP increased tremendously in early

independence

Important Questions:

In order to succeed, independent Singapore had to overcome her longue duree problems.

1011SEM1 - Who, when and for what reasons, decided to designate Raffles as the founder of Singapore? [25 marks]

1819 VS 1299 as a starting point

1112SEM2

1299, 1819 and 1965.

Should each of these dates be recognized as equally important in Singapore’s history? What arguments can be made for and against seeing them as equally important?

Port VS Fort: which is more important

1011SEM2

Should the date 1819 be considered a turning point in (a) the history of Singapore as a nation-state, (b) the history of Singapore as a global city or (c) both? Explain your answer. [50 marks]

Nation State VS Global City

Heroes VS Small steps

1112SEM1

“Since Singapore attained its independence in 1965, it has been obsessed with the struggle to become and remain a successful city-state and global city. Having been regarded by much of the world, and its founding fathers, as a political anomaly, as too small to survive in the world of large nation states linked to economic hinterlands, it focused on future survival at the cost of forgetting much of its past, especially its past before the arrival of the British in 1819.”

Historian Derek Heng

To what extent do you agree with Heng’s assessment? In your response consider the implications on Singapore’s history for either forgetting or choosing to remember the pre-1819 era.

1011SEM1

What are the problems with looking at history only in terms of the great heroes of the past? Use examples from Singapore history to support your answer. [25 marks]

Others

ln what way have global factors been important to the development of Singapore over the last 700 vears? [50 marks]

“Singapore’s ‘strategic’ location has always remained constant but yet its economic fortunes have often fluctuated.” Discuss.

At the heart of Singapore’s thriving economy lies a great port through which goods find their way to regional and international markets.” Is this an adequate explanation for Singapore’s history over the last 700 years? [50 marks]