2011/2012, Sem 1

SSA2211 Evolution of a Global City-State Tutorial 3: Colonial Port, Communities and Commodities.
FOCUS QUESTIONS: What did it mean for Singapore to become a Colonial Port City? How did regional and international trends interact and affect Singapore in the 19th and 20th Centuries? Does the colonial era mark a new beginning or a continuation of the Singapore Story? In this round of tutorials we will focus not only on Singapore as a colonial port city, connected in a web of ports, trading centres and imperial territories but also on the trading communities which had a role in shaping the ports development. In addition, well explore the types of commodities that passed through Singapore and what these can tell us about the nature of trade in a colonial entrepot. Part One: The Rise of a Colonial Port City Read Stephen Dobbs article on Singapore River/Port in a Global Context. Focus on pages 57-63. a) What does this reading tell us about i) Singapores favourable location ii) British policies and policymaking iii) Trading seasons, communities and types of commodities traded in relation to Singapores growth in the 19th Century? b) Author Dobbs states As Riverine development proceeded in step with the ports burgeoning trade, Singapores geographical and other commercial advantages became clear (p.57). Were geographical or other commercial advantages more important? c) Who should receive the most credit for Colonial Singapores success? i) Britains power and policies ii) Raffles, Farquhar and Crawfurd iii) The various trading communities and networks

2011/2012, Sem 1

Part Two: Continuity and Change View the cartoon from the Divercity Singapore: A Cartoon History (note this is one cartoon panel spread across two pages).

a) What would you consider to be the main ideas (at least 3) the artist is trying to convey about colonial Singapores early years as a trading settlement? Do they still apply to Singapore today? Do you think they applied to Malay Entrepots such as 14th Century Temasek? b) (Optional: Time Permitting) Read the following extract: By the end of the 1970s, I began to understand Singapore a little better, or so I thought. I came to see it as part of Southeast Asia that functioned as an important centre for the political and economic life of the Malay world around it. I came to see Singapore as much as the successor of the Malay entrepots of the Straits as it was the brilliant innovation of Thomas Stamford Raffles. It was intimately linked to Johor, Riau, Sumatra, Borneo, Siam and the Indonesian archipelago. It was these continuing connections between Singapore and its surroundings that drew my attention. Carl A. Trocki, Singapore: Wealth, Power and the Culture of Control (2006), p.2. Do you agree or disagree with Trockis view? Explain your answer.