history of singapore. a srivijayan prince named sang nila utama found temasek. he saw a singa [lion]...
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A Srivijayan Prince Named Sang Nila Utama Found A Srivijayan Prince Named Sang Nila Utama Found Temasek. He Saw A Singa [Lion] And Renamed The Island Temasek. He Saw A Singa [Lion] And Renamed The Island As Singapura.As Singapura.
Temasek ('Sea Town' in Old Javanese, spelt Tumasik) was the name of an early city on the site of modern Singapore. From the 14th century, the island has also been known as Singapura, which is derived from Sanskrit and means "Lion City". Legend has it that the name was given by Sang Nila Utama when he visited the island in 1299 and saw an unknown creature, which he mistook as a lion.
FOUNDING OF SINGAPORE
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Malay Archipelago was
gradually taken over by the European colonial powers, beginning
with the arrival of the Portuguese at Malacca in 1509. The early
dominance of the Portuguese was challenged during the 17th
century by the Dutch, who came to control most of the ports in the
region. The Dutch established a monopoly over trade within the
archipelago, particularly in spices, then the region's most important
product. Other colonial powers, including the British, were limited to
a relatively minor presence.
T
he Dutch had been stifling
British trade in the region by
prohibiting the British from
operating in Dutch-controlled
ports or by subjecting them to
a high tariff. Raffles hoped to
challenge the Dutch by
establishing a new port along
the Straits of Malacca, the
main ship passageway for the
India-China trade.
SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES
I
n 1818, Sir Stamford Raffles was
appointed as the Lieutenant Governor
of the British colony at Bencoolen. He
was determined that Great Britain
should replace the Netherlands as the
dominant power in the archipelago,
since the trade route between China
and British India, which had become
vitally important with the institution
of the opium trade with China, passed
through the archipelago.
FOUNDING OF SINGAPORE
R
affles arrived in Singapore on 28 January 1819 and soon recognized the island as a
natural choice for the new port. It lay at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, near
the Straits of Malacca, and possessed a natural deep harbor, fresh water supplies, and
timber for repairing ships. Raffles found a small Malay settlement, with a population of
a few hundred, at the mouth of the Singapore River,
B
efore Raffles arrived, there were around 1,000 people living in Singapore, mostly
Malays and a few dozen Chinese.By 1869, due to migration from Malaya and other
parts of Asia, Singapore's population had reached 100,000. Many Chinese and Indians
immigrants came to Singapore to work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and
their descendents later formed the bulk of Singapore's population.
TT
his trading port is his trading port is
situated along busy situated along busy
shipping routes that shipping routes that
connect Europe to China. connect Europe to China.
The Port of Singapore is The Port of Singapore is
the world's busiest and the world's busiest and
very popular port as it is very popular port as it is
in the centre of the main in the centre of the main
trading route.trading route.
SINGAPORE AS A TRADING PORT
LEGENDS OF THE NAME TEMASEK
Temasek is `Sea Town’ in old Temasek is `Sea Town’ in old
Javanese. It was the name of an early Javanese. It was the name of an early
city now known as Singapore. From city now known as Singapore. From
the 14th century, the island has also the 14th century, the island has also
been known as Singapura which been known as Singapura which
means `Lion City’.means `Lion City’.
T
he Merlion is a statue with
the head of a lion and the
body of a fish, used as a
mascot to identify
Singapore. Its name
combines `mer’ meaning
the sea and `lion’. The
fish body represents
MERLION
INDEPENDENCE OF SINGAPORE
T
he history of the Republic of Singapore began when Singapore gained its independence and became a
republic following an ejection from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. After the separation, the fledgling
nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass unemployment, housing
shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as petroleum. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as
prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of
living and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's economic infrastructure
was developed, racial tension was eliminated and an independent national defence system was created.
Singapore evolved from a developing nation to first world status towards the end of the 20th century.
I
n 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country tackled the
economic impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2003 SARS outbreak, as well as terrorist
threats posed by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) post–11 September and the Bali bombings. In 2004 Lee Hsien
Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the third prime minister.