Bold look at Singapore's origins

2009-09-11T08:01:00Z

Eisen Teo reviews Singapore: A 700-Year History and learns a few new things.

IF FOR you the story of Raffles and the Japanese occupation are the only things you easily remember about Singapore's history, then getting your hands on Singapore, A 700-Year History: From Early Emporium To World City could change the way you perceive this island's past.

Penned by Mr Kwa Chong Guan, Professor Tan Tai Yong and Assistant Professor Derek Heng, this book is a local history lesson with a difference, with tales far removed from the standard fare drilled into us at secondary school.

For one, it debunks the notion that Singapore's history truly began only when Sir Stamford Raffles docked at the banks of the Singapore River in 1819.

Another oft-downplayed narrative the book highlights is one that falls between the 1820s and the 1930s — how Singapore gradually evolved from a maritime emporium dependent on East-West trade routes to a port serving the rich Malayan hinterland.

Rewritten too is Singapore's military history — instead of just harping on the Japanese Occupation, the book documents 150 years of how Singapore figured in the British Empire’s broader strategic concerns of defending its vast sprawl of colonies.

But the main draw has to be the bold attempt by the authors to pull back another 500 years of Singapore's history.

Singapore did not merely take a back seat to history between its heyday as a trading emporium in the 14th century, and the time Raffles set up a trading post at the Singapore River, they argue.

In fact, Singapore's "founding" in 1819 is detailed in Chapter 7 – almost halfway through the book.

After the rise of Melaka and the decline of Singapura as a thriving port by the 15th century, Singapore still figured heavily in the strategic considerations of first the Melaka Sultanate and then the Johore Empire.

It was one possible point of contention for the sparring Portuguese and Acehnese on one side, and the Dutch and Johoreans on the other, in the 16th and 17th centuries.

At different times, the Dutch and the Portuguese considered setting up forts on the island called present-day Singapore, but didn’t due to different economic or strategic reasons.

Malay, Portuguese and Dutch sources, and archaeological evidence from local sites such as Empress Place and the Old Parliament House, were consulted for this bold thesis.

These arguments have profound repercussions for the way the layman perceives local history: Let's not always study Singapore from a Singapore-based point of view, as an entity shaped by powerful individuals from within, trying to adapt and change according to external circumstances.

Instead, let's look at Singapore from the outside, as part of a larger network – be it economic, military, strategic, or colonial.

Let's look at Singapore as an entity whose destiny was shaped by external circumstances more than powerful individuals.

This book may be styled as a textbook, but don't be overawed – it's still a good read for every Singaporean who wants to know his country better.

And its fresh ideas might just stoke students' interest in local history.

Singapore, A 700-Year History: From Early Emporium To World City by Mr Kwa Chong Guan, Professor Tan Tai Yong and Assistant Professor Derek Heng is available from Kinokuniya, Popular Bookstore, MPH, Select Books, Times Bookstores and Harris Book Company.

The Straits Times Blogs - Eisen Teo

Bold look at Singapore's origins