Tuesday, 25 March 2014

                

                     What was Singapore like before 1819?

                                                          Key point 1                                           

                                                         - People who lived during early               
                                                          language to communicate with.                                                                        



Source 1:The Singapore stone
This source supports this key point as it has some form of language carved on it thus proving that there was a form of language used in the
early Singapore before 1819. The Singapore Stone is a fragment of a large sandstone slab which originally stood at the mouth of the Singapore River. The slab was blown up in 1843 to clear and widen the passageway at the river mouth to make space for a fort and the quarters of its commander.
. The Stone, now displayed at the National Museum of Singapore





                                                                                                        Key point 2

                                                        - Singapore was a prosperous port.



Source 2: Gold ornaments
This source supports proves that traders came to Singapore to make trades thus this makes Singapore a prosperous port.








Source 3: Chinese coins
This source proves that chinese traders came to Singapore during early Singapore before 1819.Ancient Chinese coin includes some of the earliest known coins. These coins, used as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), took the form of imitations of the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonial exchanges. The Spring and Autumn period also saw the introduction of the first metal coins.  Round metal coins with a round, and then later square hole in the center were first introduced around 350 BC. Coins were widely used for such as when paying tax, salaries and fines.
 Chinese coins were usually made from mixtures of metals such coppertin and lead, from bronzebrass or iron: precious metals like gold and silver were uncommonly used. Most Chinese coins were produced with a square hole in the middle. This was used to allow collections of coins to be threaded on a square rod so that the rough edges could be filed smooth, and then threaded on strings for ease of handling.Official coin production was not always centralised, but could be spread over many mint locations throughout the country.


                                                        Key point 3 


                                - There was a form of defence in Singapore before 1819.


Source 4: Fort canning 
Fort canning proves that there was a form of defence during the early Singapore as it is a fort forts serve as a military defence against enemys.  The hill was recorded as Bukit Larangan prior to the arrival of Stamford Raffles in 1819, which means "Forbidden Hill" in Malay language. Raffles was told of how local settlers were wary of ascending the hill as they believed it was the site of palaces built by their an  cestral kings. Impressed by the historic significance of the hill, and the commanding view it offered over the colony he had established, Raffles built his first residence on the hill. A keen botanist, he also built Singapore's first botanical garden there in 1822. The residence served as the colony's governors, thus subsequently earning the name Government Hill.
By late 1859, increased security concerns led to the hill taking on a military role with the demolition of the governor's residence, and the building of a fortwith an arms store, barracks and a hospital. The fort was named Fort Canning after Viscount Charles John Canning, who was then Governor-Generaland the first Viceroy of India. Government Hill was thus named after the fort, and has remained so ever since even after the end of its military role more than a century later.
Under the British Army, the fort served as the headquarters of the Singapore Base District until the spread of World War II into the Asia Pacific in 1941. 




Source 5: Old guns and weapons
These old guns and weapons shows that there was a form of military defence. The weapons are probably used by the soldiers in the fort during early Singapapore before 1819.