MALAYSIAN STUDIES

FN101

Chapter 1 : The Nations Early History

(Part 1)

By: Nurhani Hazirah

 Ancient History
History has proven that Malaysian is not a new
country. Humans have been living in several areas of
the country since the Stone Age. For years after that,
trade zones existed followed by famous kingdoms.
Early Inhabitants
Early civilization was found near Niah Caves a skull
belonged to a 15 year old boy buried estimated to
be 40,000 years ago.
The civilization at Kuala Tampan estimated to be
74,000 years old.
 PERIOD YEAR MAIN CHARATERISTICS OF INHABITANTS AREA

Paleolithic 35,000 1. Live in caves 1. Tampan Estuary, Perak

(Early Stone Age) years ago 2. Forest production & hunting 2. Niah Caves, Sarawak
3. Tingkayu, Sabah

Mesolithic 11,000 1. In caves & along rivers & lakes 1. Cha Cave,Kelantan
(Middle Stone Age) years ago 2. Farming,refined stone tools, earthenware 2. Kecil Cave,Pahang
3. Kepah Cave,Kedah
4. Jenderam Hilir,Selangor

Neolithic 5,000 - Sophisticated stone tools, started communicaion 1. Cha Cave,Kelantan

(New Stone Age) years ago with other communities in other places,creating 2. Kecil Cave,Pahang
objects,using accessories 3. Kepah Cave,Kedah
4. Jenderam Hilir,Selangor
5. Others: refer to text
book

Bronze 2500 -population grew, developed residential areas in 1. Lang rivers, Selangor
(Metal Age) years ago wide open land near rivers, more oderly, practise 2. Langar Rivers Selangor
social customs. 3. Muar Rivers, Johor
4. Tembeling, Pahang
 There are several places in
Malaysia especially those along
Ancient Ports the seashores of Peninsula
Malaysia located at the
crossroad of Chinese, Indian
and Arabian trade routes grew
to become very important ports
for local residents and the rest
of the world.
Rich natural resources such as
resin, cane and minerals, which
included gold and tin ore.
 Islands of The Malay Archipelago
This region known as the Malay World or The Island of
the Malay Archipelago.
Inhabitants that time move freely from one place to
another as there were no boundaries as a nation with
one Malay language and culture.
Elements of similarity language spoken by Malays in
Kampuchea, Patani and South of Mindanao are similar
with Malaysia and Indonesia.
Early Kingdoms in the Malay of Archipelago Funan, Old
Kedah, Langkasuka, Patani, Chih-Tu, Kelantan, and
others refer to text books page 6 on Table 16.
The Malay
Melaka was founded by
Kingdom of Parameswara in
Melaka 1403.Parameswara named the
area Melaka after a Melaka tree.
Arabic word Malaqat which
meant place of shelter,which
symbolize what the place was to
Parameswara and his followers.
Under the leadership of
Parameswara and his descendents,
Melaka expanded and became one
of the most famous trading
centre's in the 15th century.
The Golden Age of Parameswara developed the
infrastructure in Melaka which
Melaka
included the harbor that enabled
Melaka to become a global trade
centre.
Melaka was an empire with
advanced civilization and well-
known centre for maritime trade
and the spread of Islam, with a
vast territory and strong trade
relations with China and India.
The system of government, the
ruler was the head, the Islamic
religion and the army.
 Ruling System of the Melaka Kingdom
The highest position was the King. Parameswara converted and
the members of Melaka Kingdom converted in Islam, the ruler
was called Sultan.
Sultan of Melaka and their period of reign
14001414 Iskandar Shah
14141424 Megat Iskandar Shah
14241444 Muhammad Shah
14441446 Abu Syahid Shah
14461459 Muzaffar Shah
14591477 Mansur Shah
14771488 Alauddin Riayat Shah
14881511 Mahmud Shah
15111513 Ahmad Shah
 The two main laws
Malacca Law
Malacca Law of the Sea
The administrative Melaka Sultanate was based
on types of regions under its governance:
Kota Melaka
Vassal territories
Conquered territories
Colonized territories
 Sultan appointed the important court officials
that served as administrators, executors of laws
and regulations, judges, officers for oversee the
affairs of the port.
There are Fourfold System the four main officials
are the:
Bendahara (similar to our Prime Minister today),
Penghulu Bendahari (treasurer of the
government/Finance Minister)
Temenggung (executor/ head of legal matters state
laws and security)
Laksamana (warrior at the sea/leader of all the
kingdoms warriors)
 Factors contributed to the Golden Age of
Melaka
The heyday of Melaka as a great empire was
due to the 4 important factors:
1) Geographical factors
-located midway along the trade routes between
India and China and functioned as the link
between the main trade markets.
- two main monsoon winds beneficial the
seafaring boats besides, it is also a good spot
to dock and protected from strong winds.
 Rich of natural resources includes aromatic
woods, resin, rotan, gold (The Golden
Penisula), and tin mining.
Malay Peninsula is protected by the Sumatran
Islands which promotes plankton growth.
Cowrie shells, cockles shells were used widely
as currency.
 Factors contributed to the Golden Age of
Melaka
2) Economic factors
-Besides the advantage in location, Malay
Archipelago also had abundance of luxury
from other nations and its richness of natural
resources.
-Strong ties with China had a positive effects in
economic development of Melaka.
 Factors contributed to the Golden Age of
Melaka
3)Political and administrative factors
-Close ties with China benefits Melaka with
Chinese protection. (save from Siam)
-Melaka has a comprehensive military structure
(Malacca Law & Malacca Law of the Sea)
-Organized treasury system.
-Bahasa Melayu as medium (lingua franca).
 The Fall of Melaka
The golden age of the Malay Kingdom of
Melaka ended in 16th Century, during Sultan
Mahmud Shahs reign. There were several
internal and external factors contributed to
the fall of Melaka empire.
Factors contributed to the fall of Melaka

Internal Factors

External Factors
 Conclusion
By understanding the rise and fall of these
Malay Kingdoms, one can conclude that a
great civilization existed in the past.
Future generation can appreciate and respect
the nations history and strengthen the
identity of the country.