Thursday, 27 September 2012

HISTORY OF MALACCA

Malacca in Malaysia


Before Malaysia becomes one of the most stable countries in the worldwide, Malaysia actually was controlled by small dozens of kingdoms. By 671 century, most of the area was incorporated into the Srivijaya Empire, which was based on Indonesian Sumatra. Srivijaya Empire was a maritime empire that controlled Malacca and Sunda Straits, the two key narrows on the Indian Ocean Trade routes.

 Malacca was actually a fishing village inhabited by local Malays before it was founded in the 13th century by a descendant of the Srivijayan royal family named Parameswara. He found Malacca during his flight to escape from the Emperor of Majapahit whom he had unsuccessfully tried to overthrown. Plus, he named it “Malacca” after the name of tree that he had taken shelter which is “pokok Melaka”. 

The early Arab traders then brought Islam to Malacca which contribute to Parameswara converted to Islam from Hinduism and automatically changed his name to Sultan Iskandar Shah.


Malacca Sultanate' palace



Perfectly located for trade, Malacca was both known as influential and prosperous state within 50 years which made it becomes the first powerful state that centred in the Malaysia. Malacca was an important port for traders because most traders from greatest kingdoms especially China's admiral named Zheng He and early Portuguese explorers like Diogo Lopes de Sequeira who come to barter goods and spices. Plus, secured storehouses facilities were provided for the traders in order to store their goods from the interior and abroad.

Because of its strategic location, Malacca was surrounded by many powerful kingdoms such as Portuguese, Dutch Empire, British Empire and Japanese. However, still in 1989, Malacca has been declared as Malaysia's history city. Success brought prosperity, wealth and power to the Malacca. As the results, Malacca controlled the entire west coast of the Malaysia Peninsula, the kingdom of Pahang, and much of Sumatra even though it is the smallest state after Perlis and Penang.





Malacca' historical place, A Famosa fort








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