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Visit Singapore - Brief history about Singapore!

Before you visit Singapore,I believe you would like to know something about Singapore. Like how Singapore got it name? Here we briefing describe about Singapore history......

Early history about Singapore

The beautiful island has many name before it was call Singapore. During the 3rd century Written reference from the Chinese account, the island was refers as Puluozhong which translate from Malay words Pulau Ujong (island at the end of the peninsula).

The island also refer as Temasek (Water Town) during the early time was rule by Srivijaya empire. Some evidences have show that the city status as a regional trade during that time.

The born of singapore modern name

And after many century later, the island was re discover by Sang Nila Utama, a member of a royal family ruler of Palembang. However it's said that, one day while he was seeking shelter from storm after ship whack and found himself landed on sandy shores of this island, he saw a unknown creature run across mistaking the creature for a lion and at that moment, he believe to be a good omen. So he decided to name the island Singapura. "singa" refer to lion and pura refer to "city". The Sanskrit words for Lion City.

Following the decline of Srivijaya power Singapore was caught in the power struggles between Siamese and the Majapahit Empire for control over the Malay Peninsula.

During the 16th and early 17th century, Singapore was under the rule of sultan of johor.

Arrival of Raffles

Raffles visited Singapore only three times, the first time was during January 1819. In June 1819 for for weeks and for eight months in 1822-1823.

After he step foots on the island upon investigation, he knew that the island possessed great potential.

A formal treaty was signed between British East India Company and the sultan of Johor granting the use of Singapore as a trading post in return providing him with a yearly payment.

During he stay, he decided that the harbour of Singapore would become a great commercial emporium in the East for Britain. He also decided that Chinese, Malays and Indians would settle on different sides of the Singapore River and that Padang would become the seat of the Government.

(Source : Singapore, Tourism & Me by Pamelia Lee and Wikipedia)

Did you know....

Last Colonial Classical Building

Built in 1939, the Supreme Court was the last colonial classical building to be built in Singapore. Above the entrance of the building, the stately sculpture of Justice wields her scales and there is a frieze of the historic signing of the 1819 treaty between Stamford Raffles and Sultan Hussein, which established Singapore as a trading post.

Source : THE SINGAPORE BOOK OF RECORDS

The Straits Settlements

At 1826, Singapore, Penang and Malacca, the three British settlements in the Malay Peninsula, had become the Straits

Settlements and all came under the direct control of British India.The Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony during 1867 and were directly overseen by Colonial Office in London.

Japanese Occupation

It was tough for everybody during the Japanese Occupation. Singapore fell to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, Singapore remained under Japanese occupation for almos three and a half years and the Japanese renamed the island to Syonan (Light of the South).

Toward Independent and Self Government

After the war, the British took over and Singapore was under the rule of British Military Administration till 1946.The British Military Administration came to an end after a year. Soon after that, Singapore becomes the Crown Colony once again.

During the pro war period, due to lack of food and high unemployment rate causing an increase in crimes. And it takes several years for the economy to recover. Singapore was granted full internal self government base on the Rendel proposal. Some of the area such as internal security and foreign affairs will still overseen by the British.

During 1963, Federation of Malaysia was form. It consists of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. The merger was short, The Parliament of Malaysia decided to expulsion Singapore. On 09August 1965, Lee Kuan Yew announced that Singapore was a sovereign, independent nation.

Hope that, after my brief describes about Singapore you will understand more about Singapore and how Singapore got it name. Perhaps, if you think that you wanted to know more. Simply click to link to know more about Singapore History.