Unit 2: SG from Pre-14th to 18th Century Flashcards
What are connections?
• Connections mean some form of relationship, with or without direct contact.
• Connections involve some form of ties or links.
- e.g. dancing partners show collaboration, interconnecting links from one place to another in MRT network, allies in the FPDA alliance
- Connections brings about an interdependence.
- Connections like networks mean places are interlinked. One part affects another.
• Connections means one party impacts on another (this may be beneficial or not).
- eg dancing partners affect each other’s performance, MRT network which is a system that links up different areas so people can travel from place to place.
What kind of connections did countries in the past had?
- Economic Connections
- Formed through trade or the exchange of goods. - Political Connections
- In the past, political connections in Southeast Asia developed when a powerful country conquered another country or became the protector of a weaker country.
- bunga emas
→ form of tribute sent by smaller states as a token of loyalty (e.g. Temasek to Siam) in the past.
- The stronger country is the overlord and the country seeking support is the vassal or tributary. - Cultural Connections
- This occurs when countries influence each other through exchanges of ideas about their country’s religion, traditions, food, cultural practices (eg dance, art) etc.
What is bunga emas?
form of tribute sent by smaller states as a token of loyalty (e.g. Temasek to Siam) in the past.
What are folk tales?
• Stories originating from a popular culture that was typically passed on by word of mouth. (these tales are “true” not because they actually happened but because there is often a bit of “truth” or wisdom embedded in them.)
What are myths?
- Traditional stories, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
- Myths are widely held, but are false beliefs or ideas.
What are legends?
- Traditional stories sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated.
- There are many legends about Singapore’s Past, some of which are about the Merlion, Pulau Blakang Mati (Present-day Sentosa), Kusu Island, Bukit Merah (Redhill) etc.
What is trade?
- Exchange of Goods and Services
Why do people trade?
- To exchange goods they require / need
- To sell goods they have produced
What facilitated trade connections?
- Weather Conditions
- Level of Technology
- Demand of Resources
How did trade connect people?
- Exchange of Goods & Services → Spice - Exchange of Ideas → Religion → Culture → Technology
What are the results of trade?
Profits
Who (not impt) found evidence that people from where traded with people from where (impt)?
• Prehistoric Southeast Asia Archaeologists have found evidence that people in prehistoric Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam traded with India and China.
- Although no written sources describe prehistoric Southeast Asia, archaeological research shows that local sailors then had developed a high degree of nautical expertise in the waters of the South China Sea and adjacent areas 2,500 years ago.
Local sailors developed a high degree of ______ in the waters of the ______ and _____ _____ years ago.
- Although no written sources describe prehistoric Southeast Asia, archaeological research shows that local sailors then had developed a high degree of nautical expertise in the waters of the South China Sea and adjacent areas 2,500 years ago.
By the _____ or _____ centuries BC, _____ developed a _____ system stretching over a vast span of _____, from the _____ to the _____, and beyond, to the _____ or _____
• By the third or fourth centuries BC, Southeast Asians had developed a trading system stretching over a vast span of water, from the South China Sea to the Java Sea, and beyond, to the Spice Islands or Moluccas.
- This route is first detected by the vast dispersal of bronze artefacts of a style known as Dongson, made in North Vietnam, famous for their elaborate decoration and great size, which archaeologists have found as far east as Papua New Guinea.
• Besides the Dongson drums, archaeologists had also found beads of glass, gemstones such as agate and zircon, and spices.
Who transported these drums and spices?
• Chams, Malays, and Javanese who inhabited most of the Southeast Asian coasts played a crucial role.
- They obtained spices from the Spice Islands Moluccas and they sailed north to North Vietnam.
- Upon their return, they carried the bronze Dongson drums.
By the __th C. AD, __________ were used to pay rent in ___________.
• By the 4th C. AD, Moluccan cloves were used to pay rent in Roman-occupied Egypt.
The spice route was over _____ years old when it attracted the attention of ________________, who in an attempt to find his way to the Moluccas in 1942, accidentally discovered America.
• The spice route was over 1,000 years old when it attracted the attention of Christopher Columbus, who in an attempt to find his way to the Moluccas in 1492, accidentally discovered America.
The discoveries of the Dongson drums and other artefacts dispersed over a wide area of space strongly suggest that some ____ years ago, many Southeast Asians lived in villages ______ by __________ and that they had contact with both _____ and _____.
• The discoveries of the Dongson drums and other artefacts dispersed over a wide area of space strongly suggest that some 4,000 years ago, many Southeast Asians lived in villages connected by trading networks and that they had contact with both China and India.
By the __th Century, Southeast Asian maritime trade concentrated along the _______________ with many ports emerging in the __________. Traders and officials in these ports coordinated complex exchanges of a vast range of commodities between the __________, the _______________, and the _______.
• By the 7th Century, Southeast Asian maritime trade concentrated along the Straits of Malacca with many ports emerging in the Malay Archipelago. Traders and officials in these ports coordinated complex exchanges of a vast range of commodities between the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and the Java Sea.
Much of the foreign trade that benefited these port cities of Southeast Asia had its origins in early trade links that were formed between people of ______, _____ and _____ since the first centuries A.D.
• Much of the foreign trade that benefited these port cities of Southeast Asia had its origins in early trade links that were formed between people of Europe (Rome), India and China since the first centuries A.D.
• Trade functions on the basis of _______________ that a country _____ or _____ (what it can _____) for those that it does not have (creating a _____ for these products).
- This was indeed the _______ motivation of traders from ______ and the __________ who were willing to travel long distances to sell their goods in exchange for those that were _______ available in ______ (e.g. ceramic bowls, expensive porcelain, spices, raw materials such as gold, silver, iron, copper and the tropical products of the Southeast Asian rainforests).
- A change in circumstances led __________ foreign traders to come to Southeast Asia.
• Trade functions on the basis of exchanging goods that a country possesses or produces (what it can supply) for those that it does not have (creating a demand for these products).
- This was indeed the primary motivation of traders from Europe and the Middle East who were willing to travel long distances to sell their goods in exchange for those that were exclusively available in Asia (e.g. ceramic bowls, expensive porcelain, spices, raw materials such as gold, silver, iron, copper and the tropical products of the Southeast Asian rainforests).
- A change in circumstances led more foreign traders to come to Southeast Asia.
What were the changes that led to more foreign traders coming to Southeast Asia to trade?
- Change in demand - increased demand for goods from Southeast Asia
- Change in trade routes - transition from overland routes to sea routes
- Change in demand - increased demand for goods from Southeast Asia
• During the 1st century A.D., the demand for goods such as spices, silk and incense grew significantly in Europe. At the same time, in India, there was an increase in the demand for gold and silver and other precious metals. Since most of these goods could only be found in Southeast Asia (spices) and China (silk, porcelain, tea, incense), more traders were keen to travel to Southeast Asia to earn lucrative profits by trading in such goods.
The Story of Spice
- Is it appropriate to say that “spice was worth its weight in gold”? Although this sounds exaggerated, spice was certainly expensive in Europe relative to their cost in Asia, which was one-tenth or one-hundredth what it was eventually sold for in Europe.
Who bought the spices in Europe?
- Since it was expensive, the people who could afford spice were the wealthy (e.g. aristocrats, the middle to upper-class members of European society). It must be remembered though that spice was still affordable enough for the common folk who may have bought smaller quantities of it simply because even a small amount could be used for a fair bit of time. A pound of pepper may have set a craftsman back by several days’ wages, but he would not have to buy it again for a while. Even the richer peasants could afford pepper, the cheapest of the common spices.
What are the goods that could only be found in China?
Silk, Porcelain, Tea and Cotton (incense too)
What is the purpose of spices?
• Spice is used for flavouring, preparation of food and to help season and preserve meat throughout the year.
- Change in trade routes - transition from overland routes to sea routes
What was the most important overland trade route?
Why were more people looking for maritime trade routes?
• The most important overland trade route that allowed traders to travel from Europe to Asia (India and then China) was the Silk Road.
- However, in around A.D. 200, this route became unsafe, which disrupted trade. Traders had to use alternative sea routes. Although maritime trade routes had been used since around 100 B.C., the disruption to overland routes and the advancements in shipbuilding made maritime trade routes more popular.
What was the reason behind the surge of foreign interest in Southeast Asia?
• The reason for the surge of foreign interest in Southeast Asia was because traders using the alternative sea routes depended on sailing ships to transport their goods, and this required traders from Europe and Asia to travel using monsoon winds.
_____ along the path of these seasonal winds then became part of a _______________ that linked _______________ of ______. Such developments may well explain why Southeast Asian seaborne trade began to _______________ to _____ and _____ at around the same time that traders began using the new _____ routes.
• Settlements along the path of these seasonal winds then became part of a large maritime network that linked close to 10,000 kilometres of coastline. Such developments may well explain why Southeast Asian seaborne trade began to expand westwards to India and China at around the same time that traders began using the new sea routes.
Soon, some of these ports gained much _____ from trade, grew more ________, and became __________. The rise of port cities like __________(and subsequent empires like _______ and _______) must therefore be understood in context of the changes to the Asian maritime trade economy.
• Soon, some of these ports gained much wealth from trade, grew more powerful, and became small kingdoms. The rise of port cities like Palembang (and subsequent empires like Srivijaya and Majapahit) must therefore be understood in context of the changes to the Asian maritime trade economy.
Ships from the Middle East (Persia, Arabia) and India sailing to Southeast Asia to trade their goods for ____ and other produce of the region had to pass through ______controlled waters, allowing ______to prosper. Hence, ______’s rise can be attributed to how well connected it was because of its command of the international maritime trade routes.
• Ships from the Middle East (Persia, Arabia) and India sailing to Southeast Asia to trade their goods for spices and other produce of the region had to pass through Srivijayan controlled waters, allowing Srivijaya to prosper. Hence, Srivijaya’s rise can be attributed to how well connected it was because of its command of the international maritime trade routes.
