Melaka

 

Melaka was originally founded in the 14^th century by a Sumatran prince. It rapidly became a major market town, trading Indonesian spices and Indian textiles, forming vast wealth trough taxes on all important goods. In 1488 – 1530 they ruled the west coast of the Peninsula up to Perak, Singapore and the east coast of Sumatra, making it one of the richest kingdoms in the world….By the early 1500’s the population had exceeded 100,000 and it was not uncommon to have up to 2,000 ships moored in its port…..the Portuguese conquest took place in 1511 and ruled for 130 years….the Dutch East India Company captured Melaka in 1641 after a 5-month siege and the British took it over in 1795. With the establishment of Singapore, Melaka went into further decline.