Tag: History
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Temasek — The Island before Singapore
For a forward-looking nation, the emphasis on national history, or history as a subject/discipline in general, has not been as heavily emphasised as part of national curriculum, relative to our STEM subjects. Furthermore, if we attempt to trace out Singapore’s history, most people would likely (almost instinctively) start with 1819 – the year Sir Stamford…
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Deconstructing the “sleepy village” of Singapore’s past
Having just celebrated Singapore’s 60 birthday, many Singaporeans often see this rhetoric of our nation being thrown around: This “sleepy fishing village” was catalysed into modernity by the British arrival and transformed into a bustling port city. It’s an inspiring story, one that ties Singapore’s success to colonial intervention. However, this is also a narrative…
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Batavia and the VOC
For over 300 years, the Dutch shaped Indonesia’s history, economy, and society. From the first Dutch ships arriving in the late 1500s to Indonesian independence in 1949, colonialism transformed the archipelago in ways still visible today—in Jakarta’s skyline, its economy, and even its social fabric. But the Dutch might never have reached Indonesia—let alone built…
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The Backerganj Cyclone of 1876
In an age of turbulent and unpredictable weather, readiness to deal and adapt has become increasingly critical. Today’s blog will take us back to October 1876, when one of the most devastating tropical cyclones in recorded history struck what is now Barisal, Bangladesh. Known as the Backerganj Cyclone, it killed an estimated 200,000 people —…
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One for the Road: Battle of the Malacca Strait
The Battle of the Malacca Strait, or referred to in Japanese sources as the “Battle off Penang” (ペナン沖海戦), was a naval battle that resulted from the British search-and-destroy operation in May 1945, called Operation Dukedom, that resulted in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Haguro. In May 1945, amidst the celebration of the end of…
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Malacca, Merchants & Multiculturalism
Situated on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, on the strait that still bears its name, the port of Malacca was once one of the most critical nodes in the early modern global economy. Known today as Melaka in local language (Bahasa Melayu), the city’s historical significance rivals that of Venice, Cairo, and Canton—similar…
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Next Station: Sembawang
For many Singaporeans, Sembawang is just another small town up North of Singapore. But long before it became a quiet residential town with parks and MRT stations, did you know that Sembawang was once home to one of the largest naval docks in the world? As the crown jewel of British naval power in Asia,…
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Tan Kim Ching and the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Singapore
Previously, we have highlighted the strategic role of Singapore as a colonial port, focusing on the developments in the late 19th century (check out our recent blog HERE). Around that period, discussions around opening the Suez Canal further cemented Singapore’s status as a shipping port with great potential, such as reduction in travel time between…