Melaka and Malay

Culture
The 15th Century
• Melaka regarded as THE Malay kingdom
in the region beginning 15th century.
• In the 14th century Srivijaya was
conquered by Majapahit.
• Refugees from Srivijaya founded Melaka
with Parameswara as leader.
• Melaka enjoyed a century of greatness
as a major trading and cultural center.
• Tributary to China, Majapahit and
Ayudhya.
• Early 15th century Melaka adopted
Islam.
• Favored destination for Arab and Indian
Muslim traders.
• Melaka ended abruptly in 1511 – fell to
the Portuguese.
16th to 18th century
• Ruling elite of Melaka established the
Sultanate of Johor.
• In the peninsular other Malay states
flourished claiming legitimacy through
connection with former Melaka.
• In spite of Portuguese attempts to
subdue Johor, it prospered in the late
16th and 17th centuries especially when
the Dutch arrived.
• In 1641 Johor helped the Dutch to oust
the Portuguese from Melaka.
• Dutch attempted to monopolize the
region’s most lucrative produce –
spices.
• Johor and other Malay states restricted
in their trading and political potential.
• Heightened and mutually destructive
competition between states.
• For instance, Johor regarded Acheh and
other Sumatran trading states as more
serious opponents than Western power.
• Scramble for diminishing trade share
led to internal instability for many Malay
states.
• Politics of Malay states further
complicated in the 18th century by
regional migrations – Bugis from
Sulawesi and Minangkabau from west
Sumatra.
Factors which led to instability in 18th
century Malay world
• British traders welcomed as allies
against other western or local power.
• Thais became a major intrusive force in
the latter part of the 18th century.
• Patani lost independence and absorbed
within Thai administrative sphere.
• In 1786 Kedah hoping to win an ally
against Thais ceded Penang to East
India Company.