Malaysian Studies

Chapter 1:
The Early History of Malaysia

Why Learn History?

What Is to Be Learned From History?

Know who you are, your society and country.

Appreciate individuals who fought for our
independence and sovereignty.
Not to repeat past mistakes.
To emulate past glory.
Help us learn and improve ourselves.
Guide us to identify things that we must
treasure, emulate or reject.

What You Will Learn in This Lecture

Malaysias historical background:
Prehistoric Age
Old Malay Kingdoms
The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Malaysias History Timeline

Prehistoric
35,000 BC - 100 BC

Independence and
Onwards
1957 - Present

Early Hindu/Malay Kingdoms

100 BC - 1400 AD
Colonial Malaysia
1511 - 1957
Islam and the Golden
Age of Malacca
1400 - 1511

Prehistoric Malaysia
People started to live here since the Stone
Age.
The Stone Age is divided into several periods:
Paleolithic (Early Stone Age)
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
Neolithic (New Stone Age)
Metal Age

Prehistoric Malaysia
Paleolithic
35000 years ago
Lives in caves
Collects forest products and hunting
Uses simple stone tools

Prehistoric Malaysia

Prehistoric Malaysia
Mesolithic
11000 years ago
Lives in caves and along rivers and lakes
Started farming
Uses refined stone tools
Able to make earthenware

Prehistoric Malaysia

Prehistoric Malaysia
Neolithic
5000 years ago
Use complex stone tools
Starts rearing livestock and creating objects.
Uses accessories like beads, and necklaces
Communicates with other tribes in other
places

Prehistoric Malaysia

Prehistoric Malaysia
Metal Age
2500 years ago
More orderly lifestyle
Practiced social customs
Developed residential areas
Lives in wide open land near rivers
Population grew

Prehistoric Malaysia

Old Malay Kingdoms

5000 years ago, old kingdoms emerged in the
Malay Archipelago
Centres of government, trade and spread of
religion
Several different Malay kingdoms rise and fall
during this period

Old Malay Kingdoms

Early Malay Kingdoms Timeline
Funan
1

Tun Sun,
Segenting Kra
3

Chih- Tu,
Tan- Tan
6

Mataram
8

CENTURIES
Langkasuka,
Patani
2

Old Kedah,
Gangga
Negara
5

Srivijaya
7

Majapahit
13

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Why Malacca?
Tome Pires states Malacca is very famous
and prosperous
The most influential and powerful of all Malay
Kingdoms in its glory days
Often referred as the starting point for
Peninsular Malaysias Malay Sultanate

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Malaccas Empire

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Founded by Parameswara in 1403 A.D.
Grew into a great Empire in the Malay
Archipelago
Center for maritime trade and the spread of
Islam
Vast territory respected by most, envied by
some

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Why was Malacca prosperous?
Strategic location for trade
Strong government & efficient administration
Protected by China & has diplomatic ties with
Java, India and Siam
Loyal subjects
Malay language lingua franca

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Governance / Administration
Sultan
Bendahara / Prime Minister
Temenggung / Chief of Defence
Laksamana / Admiral
Penghulu Bendahari / Finance Minister

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

What makes a Sultan, a Sultan?
Born a king, always a king!
His word is the law
Said to have the power to curse
his disloyal subjects
Special Rights
The only one whose house has a
balcony
The only man who can use gold
jewelry and weapons

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Language

Uses unique language, exclusive

only to him and the people who
talks to him

Colour

The only one who uses yellow an

white in his clothing and furniture
His subjects can only wear / use
the colours if he gives it to them

Owns the Royal Kris, Royal Spear,

Nobat (a set of nine musical
Special Items
instruments)

The Malay Kingdom of Malacca

Malacca Laws
Oral & written laws
Based on the Malay adat or way of life
Oral word of the Sultan
Written:
Hukum Kanun Melaka
Undang-Undang Laut Melaka

Fall of the Malacca Empire

Malaccas prosperity and status was both its

curse and blessing
Why?
Tempted many countries to conquer it
Ego / Comfort Zone

Fall of the Malacca Empire

1511
Alfonso de Albuquerque and
his 1200 men successfully
conquered Malacca after
severely struggling for one
month

Fall of the Malacca Empire

Why did Malacca fell?

Internal
Factors

Weak Sultan
Weak government
Conflicts among subjects
Bribery & Corruption
Lacking in modern war
technology
The waadat factor

Fall of the Malacca Empire

Why did Malacca fell?

External
Factors

Discovery of the Cape of Good

Hope easier for the Portuguese
to invade Malacca
High taxes imposed on
merchants

Conclusion
Malaysias early history is in 2 phases
Prehistoric and Malay Kingdoms
In Malay Kingdoms, Sultan holds the absolute
power and is helped by his ministers and
advisors
There are 2 forms of laws oral & written
The strength of any country is tested during
its peak and Malacca failed the test