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

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