Monday, September 22, 2014

Reflection

Hazel Teo (18) : I think that we should appreciate history and always get to know more of it. Through this project, I have learnt how to work together and well, be punctual.

Teng Sok Ling (17) : Through this project, I have learnt a lot more about how Singapore was like before 1819. I thought that it was quite hard to do this project because there were some communication problems but we still managed to finish this project.

Group: We found that the instructions were not clear enough but still we manage to overcome the problem through teamwork. We needed our HI handouts. At the beginning, we might not have work well together but in the end, we still manage to finish the project on time. 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Credits


  • http://malayannals.blogspot.sg/
  • https://www.thesingaporepromise.sg/?tabid=1677
  • http://juniorhistorians101.blogspot.sg/2014/03/history-of-singapore-before-1819.html
  • http://www.postcardman.net/singapore_topo.html
  • Singapore from Temasek to the 21st Century, by Karl Hack (Author, Editor), Jean-Louis Margolin (Editor), Karine Delaye (Editor)

Political Aspect

Online Research:


Postcards

This is a political and social aspect
I can infer that there were civilized and literate people who knew how to
read and write living in Singapore before 1819. The evidence is "There are sentences and also address written in English on the paper".Thus, it proves that there were people who were literate before 1892,before Raffles had arrived.


Artefact from Museum:
Sejarah Melayu 

The Sejarah Melayu contains stories that had been circulating oral tradition. Its stories revolve around the sultans and events occurring in Singapore and Melaka. 
 This artefact is related to the political, social and economic aspect. 
This artefact tells us about the period when Singapore was ruled by the Malay Kingdoms to the time the Europeans first visited Singapore and how they signed the treaty. The evidence is the English translated version of the Sejarah Melayu which is stated in the credits section. This tells us that Singapore was long ruled by the Malays even before Raffles found Singapore.

Economic Aspect

Book Source:

From the book: “In the 14th century, the island’s prosperity rested on regulating the regional carrying trade passing through the Straits of Melaka. In 1819, after a long period of decline, the British East India Company revived the island’s fortunes by making Singapore a “free” port, and trade sustained the city until Japanese occupation and the postwar collapse of colonial rule.”

This is the economic and political aspect.
From the text above, I can infer that Singapore was a prosperous island before 1819. This is supported by “the island’s prosperity rested on regulating the regional carrying trade…”
I can also infer that Singapore had loss its prosperity, probably due to the rise of Malacca. This is seen from “after a long period of decline…


Online Research:


Arrow heads

This weapon was used in Singapore.
This online research is related to the economic aspect. 
This weapon tells us that Singapore had enemies before 1819. The evidence is that “arrow heads are used for self-defence”. This shows us that Singapore must have been a prosperous port. Thus, it aroused jealousy from other countries which leads to the countries attacking Singapore


Artefact from museum:



Gold Ornament found in Singapore. 

The pair of earrings is set with inferior diamonds, bar-and-socket joints and wire hinges. 
This artefact is related to the economic aspect. 
This artefact tells us that there were wealthy families living in Singapore before 1819. The evidence is that “the pair of earrings is set with inferior diamonds”. This shows that people in Singapore before 1819 are already earning a lot of money in order to be able to buy the gold ornaments.

Social Aspect

Book Source:
“Singapore was already a busy trading center before Raffles came in 1819. There are hundreds of thousands of artefacts, both local and foreign, especially pottery shards, broken pieces of pottery found in Singapore. “

This is related to the social and economic aspect.
This shows that many traders around the world had come to Singapore to trade in the 14th century. Singapore has also been well known to many traders, especially Chinese. One of the Chinese traders Wang Dayuan, had also written an account on Singapore.


Artefact from Museum:


Broken pieces of ceramics found by the Singapore River. 

The broken pieces have distinctive Chinese drawings 
These artefacts is related to the social and political aspect. 
These artefacts tells us that there were presence of Chinese in Singapore before 1819. The evidence is that “the broken pieces have distinctive Chinese drawings on them”. This shows that there were people living in Singapore before 1819 or there Chinese traders before 1819.