Thursday 27 March 2014

What Was Singapore Like Before The 1819?

1. Singapore's Transportation Before 1819

 Source 1:
A picture of Orang Laut families who are considered as original inhabitants of many islands in Southeast Asia.
My Inference:
From Source 1, I can infer that one of the transportation in Singapore before the 1819 is by boats.
My Explanation:
According to the book, "SINGAPORE: The Making Of A Nation-State, 1300-1975", it states that the Orang Laut knew how to gather products from the seas to trade. Also, the Orang Laut were known for their boating skills. Hence, one of the transportations in Singapore before the 1819 was by boats.
Source 2:
My Inference:
From Source 2, I can infer that many people came to Singapore by boats and it was the main source of transportation. 
My Explanation:
There are pirates who launched frequent attacks on passing ships returning to China . Singapore was a busy port as many people travelled there by ships and boats.  Also, the boats and ships of kingdoms and empires came to Temasek with goods to trade. Thus, I can infer that many people came to Singapore by boats and it was the main source of transportation.

2. Singapore's Communication Before 1819

Source 1:











This is the Singapore stone that has the earliest writing found in Singapore, and was discovered at the mouth of the Singapore River. However, the writing on the stone cannot be deciphered. (10th-14th centuries)
My Inference:
From Source 1, I can infer that one of the ways people communicated in the olden days is by inscribing on the Singapore stone.
My Explanation:
When people inscribed on the Singapore Stone, the objectives of them doing so should be to pass information to one another. Hence, they made use of the Singapore Stone as a platform to communicate.
Source 2:

This is the Sejarah :Melayu (Which is also known as Malay Annals) written by a court official. It is about the rulers of Malacca Sultanate and their descendants. (16th Century)
My Inference:
From Source 2, I can infer that Malay was a common language used by the people in the olden days to communicate.
My Explanation:
The intentions of writing the Sejarah Melayu should be to pass down the stories of people who lived in the past to the younger generation.Thus , the language used must be a common language that is widely known and enable the younger generation to comprehend. Hence,   I can infer that Malay was a common language used by the people in the olden days to communicate.


3. Singapore's Political Life Before 1819

Source 1:
This is the keramat of Sir Iskandar Shah which is found at Fort Canning Hill.
My Inference:
From Source 1, I can infer that Sir Iskandar Shah was once a ruler in Singapore.
My Evidence:
In Source 1, it states that Sir Iskandar Shah's keramat was found at Fort Canning Hill.
My Explanation:
Fort Canning Hill was once a place that housed the rulers of Singapore, also, rulers usually get buried at the place where they died. Since the keramat of Sir Iskandar Shah was  found at Fort Canning Hill, I can infer that Sir Iskandar Shah was once a ruler in Singapore. Also, rulers usually get buried at the place where they died.







Acknowledgements:

1) http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz239/bdebritto/Fort%20Canning%20Park/FCP_2010_17.jpg
2) https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=written+account+by+wang+dayuan&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eNwzU_PkMqeViAfpnoCADw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1242&bih=607#q=Singapore+stone&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=wSSjoG-z_XTxQM%253A%3B98c3I1F2reI9cM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.nusantara.com%252FGIFS%252FSingaporeStone.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.nusantara.com%252Fdesires.html%3B486%3B184
3) http://ivyidaong4.blogspot.sg/2010/12/kon-seletar-of-singapore-houses-on.html
4) http://dreamingwanderer.blogspot.sg/2011/08/singapore-national-museum-4-of-6.html
5) http://www.worldoftemasek.com/index.php/article/history