History teaches : 2017

1	(a)	How did this fragment of Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelain make its way to Singapore? Immigrants brought the plate with them - Trade - It came by ship - X - travelling/ floated down the river/carried by the sea current	[1]
	(b)	Study Source A. What inference can you make about life in Singapore in the 1500s and 1600s? Explain your answer.	[4]

Source A tells me Singapore had trade with the Ming Dynasty in China. I know this because Source A shows a fragment of a Ming porcelain plate that was found in the Kallang River. This shows that Chinese traders sailed to Singapore to trade and this piece of porcelain was probably part of the trade.

2	(a)	What is the name for modern-day Temasek? - Singapore	[1]
	(b)	Study Source B. What can you infer about life in the city of Temasek? Explain your answer. Source B tells me Temasek was a thriving/busy/successful city/port. I know this because Source B says that “the city is very large and noble. There is a great deal of trade in spices and other wares, as there is a great abundance in that island of such products.” This means that Temasek was rich and prosperous as it had a huge city with many products. X Trading is NOT acceptable as an answer.	[4]

3	(a)	Name one way ancient Singapura had contact with other countries. War/Tributary system/Diplomacy/Trade	[1]
	(b)	Study Source C. What can the source tell you about the relationship ancient Singapura had with other countries? Explain your answer.	[4]
		Source C shows me that ancient Singapura had wars with other countries. I know this because source C shows Malay warriors who are armed with spears and swords. There is also a carving of a warrior from another empire with a weapon, facing the Malay warriors. This means that the Malay warriors had to defend ancient Singapura against attacks by invaders, which proves that there were wars with other empires.

4	(a)	Study Source D. State one thing about life in early Singapore. - Sea Gypsies lived in boats not on land. - Sea Gypsies had no clothes. - Not a lot of/limited type of food, just fish. There were thousands of rats all over the island.	[1]
	(b)	Study Source D. What does Source D tell you about life in early Singapore? Explain your answer.	[4]

Source D tells me there were many problems faced by people living in early Singapore like unhygienic/unhealthy/dangerous conditions. I know this because Source D states that “There were thousands of rats all over the island, some almost as big as cats.” This shows that the people who lived in Singapore were in danger of being attacked by rats or being infected with diseases that they carry.

Source D tells me that the Sea Gypsies lived a simple (poor) life. I know this because Source D says “all these people brought fish for the Temenggong to eat which they caught by spear. They bartered fish with Colonel Farquhar’s men for tobacco, rice and clothes as they wore no clothes.” This shows that the Sea Gypsies were neither wealthy nor rich.

Answer Key for 1E SCT Corrections

1	(a)	How did this fragment of Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelain make its way to Singapore? Immigrants brought the plate with them - Trade - It came by ship - X - travelling/ floated down the river/carried by the sea current	[1]
	(b)	Study Source A. What inference can you make about life in Singapore in the 1500s and 1600s? Explain your answer.	[4]

2	(a)	What is the name for modern-day Temasek? Singapore	[1]
	(b)	Study Source B. What can you infer about life in the city of Temasek? Explain your answer.	[4]

Source B tells me Temasek was a thriving/busy/successful city/port. I know this because Source B says that “archeologists have discovered 6,000 glass beads, several hundred pieces of small painted glass bowls, approximately 1500 pieces of glass of various shapes made in China. There are glass bangles of Indian origin considered to be quite rare.” This means that Temasek was a popular port as different traders came from different places to trade.

Source B tells me Temasek had a government. I know this because Source B says that “Fort Canning was an area where wealthy people and rulers lived and foreign ambassadors were received by the Temasek rulers.” This means that Temasek had people in charge who lived in Fort Canning and who were visited by representatives from other countries at Fort Canning.

3	(a)	Name one way ancient Singapura had contact with other countries. War/Tributary system/Diplomacy/Trade	[1]
	(b)	Study Source C. What can the source tell you about the relationship ancient Singapura had with other countries? Explain your answer.	[4]
		Source C shows me that ancient Singapura had wars with other countries. I know this because source C shows Malay warriors who are armed with spears and swords. There is also a carving of a warrior from another empire with a weapon, facing the Malay warriors. This means that the Malay warriors had to defend ancient Singapura against attacks by invaders, which proves that there were wars with other empires.

4	(a)	Study Source D. State one thing about life in early Singapore. - Sea Gypsies lived in boats not on land. - Sea Gypsies had no clothes. - Not a lot of/limited type of food, just fish. There were thousands of rats all over the island.	[1]
	(b)	Study Source D. What does Source D tell you about life in early Singapore? Explain your answer.	[4]

Saturday, 18 February 2017

The very lucrative Spice Trade which made countries fight one another

Merchants from the East controlled the sale of spices to Europe.

The European explorers were in search of new lands to discover. They also wanted to know where spices came from. These spices made food taste so much better. The Portuguese, Dutch and later the British would sail past the Cape of Good Hope in Africa towards Asia and later Southeast Asia where the spices were grown.

Spices were found in the Far East and the trade was controlled by merchants from India. The Europeans wanted to go to the South East Asian islands where spices were grown.

The different types of masted ships that European powers built to cross the oceans.

Ships got bigger and more well-armed with cannons for battle.

A Roman vessel from the 3rd century and a 17th century Dutch ship

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A Portuguese caravel in South Africa

The Bartolomeu Dias Museum complex in Mossel Bay, South Africa gives a good introduction to the age of sea exploration. The Portuguese navigator rounded the Cape of Good Hope around the southern-most tip of the continent of Africa in 1488. This complex is named after him. There is a replica of the 15th century caravel or ship in this museum.

Can you tell the time on this sundial? What else can it be used for?

Artefacts that pre-date the coming of the European explorers to the Cape of Africa

The African bushmen, like the San, had used science to hunt and art to record what they did. The explorers had to barter with the tribal people for fresh food.

What appear to be tortoise shells and an ostrich egg

Pottery fragments

The long journey down the West coast of Africa from Europe as the explorers sought to find their way to the Indies and spices!

This full-size 25-ton three-masted caravel replica was built in Portugal and sailed from Portugal to South Africa in 1988, 500 years after Bartolomeu Dias' journey.

Guess what Trevez has decided to do about the sloping deck when mum's not looking?

What would a mother tell her son caught sliding down the deck?

The caravel is housed in a building with exhibits lining the walls.

Part of the pulley system for the sails

The masts had to be hoisted or stored depending on the winds. Apparently the winds blew differently once the ships rounded the Cape of Good Hope.

Under the upper deck

This is not a very large ship

The Portuguese caravel

A quick look at the caravel

View around the lower deck. This is a modern replica that was launched on the 500th anniversary of the voyage.

http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/bartholomeu-dias

Friday, 17 February 2017

Is Singapore really 700 years old?

The answer is "yes," according to the historical evidence we have so far.

As historians, we need to look at different sources to check them against one another if they agree or disagree with one another.

Let's examine the truth of the statement of Singapore being "an obscure fishing village" when Sir Stamford Raffles arrived...

Please view this video which helps you understand the Singapore story which started 700 years ago.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMerlionPress/videos/349250888747264/

As you view the video, take note of the different names of people and places. Compare them with what is written in your textbook.

At different times, Singapore had different names:

150 = 2nd century "Sabana" by Ptolemy
200 = 3rd century "Pu Luo Chong" by the Chinese
1200 = 13th century "Singapura" by Sang Nila Utama (Sri Tri Buana from Srivijaya Empire)
1300 = 14th century Temasek/Long Ya Men - artefacts from Sri Lanka, China, Java have been found from this time period. WHAT was Singapore at this time?
1400 = 15th century Parameswara (later called Sultan Iskandar Shah) takes Temasek then is driven away to Melaka. Singapore becomes part of Melaka Sultanate. Admiral Cheng Ho also navigates Long Ya Men (Dragon's tooth gate) with his armada of Ming ships
1500 = 16th century Portuguese conquer Melaka (Singapore sinks into obscurity)
1600 = 17th century Dutch conquer Melaka (Singapore becomes pirates' haven/ also becomes part of Johor Sultanate
1700 = 18th century Singapore as a pirates' haven
1800 = 19th century (1819 The British, under Sir Stamford Raffles, arrive and set up a trading post in Singapore)
1900 = 20th century

2000 = 21st century

This Greek map is from the 2nd century! It's almost 2,000 years old.
The text in source 10 is from the 3rd century! It's also almost 2,000 years old evidence!

The now-famous legend of the renaming of Temasek as Singapura (Lion City) by a prince from Palembang.

14th century Long Ya Men had inhabitants of different groups ruled by their own leaders

Parameswaran, an ambitious prince steals the throne in Temasek but is found out and driven away by the Siamese!

You can see from the video that Singapore faced attack several times by different more powerful kingdoms and empires

By the time Raffles arrives in 1819, there are foundations of buildings made of brick.

You can see from the video that Singapore faced attack several times by different more powerful kingdoms and empires