PREHISTORIC TIMES,

EARLY HISTORY AND

FOREIGN RULES
 Pre-historical Ages of Malay
Archipelago
 Paleolithic Age (Early Stone Age) : 35,000
years ago, Gua Niah, Sarawak

 Mesolithic Age (Hoabinhian Age) : 11,000

years age, Gua Musang, Kelantan
 Pre-historical Ages of Malay
Archipelago
 Neolithic Age : 5,000 years ago, Gua
Kelawar, Perak

 Metal Age/Bronze and Iron Age: 2,500

years ago, Slim River, Perak
 Ancient Malaysia Early Hindu Kingdoms Islam and the Colonial Malaysia Independence and
35,000 BC - 100 BC 100 BC - 1400 AD Golden Age of Malacca 1511 - 1957 Onwards
1400 - 1511 AD 1957 - Present Day
Ancient
Malaysia:
35,000 BC - 100 BC 
•Historians - Malaysia's ancient past as something "shrouded
in mystery," a kind of black hole in Asian history.
- The truth is - not much archeological evidence
or written records from ancient Malaysia.
(will take time to find them)

•35,000 years BC(Before Christ)

- homo sapiens have been in Malaysia
- oldest known evidence of human habitation
Niah Caves in Sarawak. (next)
 Hindu
Kingdoms:  
100 BC - 1400 AD 
Malay Peninsula -
• Savarnadvipa (the Land of Gold - in early writings
from India).
• Indian traders called mystical, fantastically wealthily In the Bujang Valley in Kedah is Malaysia's
most extensive archeological site -- the
kingdom - gold, aromatic wood, and spices. sprawling ruins of an ancient Hindu kingdom
• Indian also brought a pervasive culture & religions. dating back to 300 AD. Over 50 tomb temples
dot the site, and hundreds of relics are on
(Hinduism and Buddhism). display in the nearby Bujang Valley
• the most visible example of the early Indian influence is: Archaeological Museum

The Malay Wedding Ceremony:

a lasting legacy of early Indian influence.
(next)
Islam and the Golden Age of Malacca:  
1400 AD - 1511 AD 
•13th century
-Srivijaya's influence declined Tome Pries, a Portuguese apothecary
-There were need for secure, well-equipped port in the region.who visited Malacca in the early 16th
century, said that the city was "of such
importance and profit that it seems to me
•Malacca it has no equal in the world."

-founded in 1400 by Palembang prince named Parameswara.

-Perfectly located for trade
-most influential port in Southeast Asia

•With these traders came Islam

-rulers now referred to themselves as Portuguese settlement

“sultans,“ (heads of a highly organized

municipal government)

Chinese influence
(next)
 Highly Organized Municipal Government.

Syahbandars Bendahara Temenggung Laksamana

( harbor master) (chief minister) (customs official) (marine captain)
 Pre-historical Ages of Malay
Archipelago

 Early Kingdoms in the Malay Archipel

ago
 The advent of Islam in South-east
Asia

 Gujarat (India): through Arabs and Persian

merchants and traders in the 13th century

 Spread to Malacca, Indonesia and the

southern Philippines
 The advent of Islam in South-east
Asia
 Srivijaya (Palembang, in Sumatra),
Buddhist Malay kingdom from the 9th to
the 13th century AD

 Majapahit (Java), Hindu kingdom gaining

control of the Malay Peninsula in the 14th
century
 Malacca Sultanate (1400)

 Founded by Parameswara in 1400 by a

prince from Palembang

 When attacked by the Majapahit army

from Java, Parameswara fled from
Palembang to Singapore(Tamasik), killed
its ruler Temagi represented by Ayhuthia
(Siam)
 Malacca Sultanate (1400)

 Fled to Muar and then Malacca, when

attacked by Siam five years later

 Converted to Islam by marrying the

daughter of Ruler of Pasai, changing name
to Megat Iskandar Shah
 The rise of Malacca Sultanate

 Geographic: sea route between China and

India, protected and aided by North East
and South West monsoons, deep harbour

 Economic: entrepot of the Malay

Archipelago, proximity to spice and pepper
trade
The rise of Malacca Sultanate
 Political and Administration: relation with
China, efficient administration, good tax
collecting system, just law, Malay
language, role of Islam, political stability
 REASON for MALACCA’S SUCCESS

 Natural port & safety of its sea lanes.

 Commercial facilities:
- security within the town
- protection of foreign merchants & goods
 ex.: underground warehouse – fire &
theft
 REASON for MALACCA’S SUCCESS

 Efficient legal & Administrative machinery

 Undang-undang Melaka – ( Malaccan Law)

 Undang-undang laut Melaka – ( Malaccan Meritime Law

 4 Syahbandars (Harbour Masters) – Gujarati, Indian,

Jawa & China.
 REASON for MALACCA’S SUCCESS

 Centre for spread the religion.

 Good relation with big empires .

 The fall of Malacca Sultanate

 Internal: no capable leaders after Tun

Perak, palace intrigue (Muslim Tamils
against Malays), corruption, high taxes
 The fall of Malacca Sultanate

 External: discovery of sea route to the

east through Cape of Good Hope by
Barholomew Diaz in 1488, traders moved
to other ports, attacked by Portuguese in
1511