1.4 Basis of Economy: Trade and Revenue system
Objectives
• Describe the factors that contributed to the growth of Brunei’s trade in 15th century-19th century
• Describe Brunei’s trading activities with other countries such as China
• Describe the Sultan and the royal family’s source of income
Brunei’s Economy
Brunei’s Trade
The incomes of the Sultan and the Royal
Family
Export of Brunei’s product
Brunei’s trade
• Brunei’s economy was supported by its conquered Negeris in Borneo and the Philippines which were rich in natural resources.
There were 2 types of Negeris:
•Protectorate•Feudal States
Protectorate
• Protectorate is a land or area under the protection of Brunei.
• Areas include negeris in the western and southern parts of Borneo and the island of Luzon, Mindanao and Sulu
• The people in this area paid taxes and they were allowed to use Brunei’s ports for trading purpose
Feudal States
• Feudal states is a land or area belong to the Sultan
• The negeris in the northern and southwestern part of Borneo, and the islands of Palawan, Banggi and Balak
• They paid taxes and provided forest product to Brunei’s market
Trading with foreign traders
• Natives collected forest product and sold them to the Malays at the river mouth
• The Malays then sent these products to the Chinese and European traders
• Each rivers mouth acted as trading centres. They functioned as feeders to Brunei’s trade as they fed money to Brunei’s economy
• Brunei’s trade continued to grow as the natives, the Malays and foreign traders continued to use Brunei’s ports to trade
