Melaka was originally founded in the 14th 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.
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