Malacca

 Abstract Malacca’s position on the Malay Peninsula allowed it to have easy contact with the rest of Eastern Asia and India and led its success to continually grow as a city of trade. Throughout its history, many cities from 600-1450 CE along the Silk Routes, Spice routes, and various sea routes imported and exported goods to and from Malacca actively during trade. The surrounding cities and civilizations in the world helped influence Malacca’s religious views, cultural acceptance, and political ideas by converting the city to Islam, exposing different languages and cultures, and giving government leaders a huge role to play in foreign trade affairs. Since it had an increased spread of cultural and religious influence and conversion, an abundance of goods to trade, and a beneficial geographical position in the world, Malacca became a tremendously powerful city of trade and dominated other cities with its advanced communication and interaction with the rest of the world.

The City of Malacca’s Growth through Contact on the Silk Routes

Malacca was a city existing in the time period from 600-1450 CE that had an enormous amount of influence and dominance in the world. Malacca had a lot of impact on other and by other cultures also developing in this time period that it was connected to, since it was a city of trade that had contact with other cities stretching far across the world through trade routes. Malacca became a well-known, successfully established, and balanced society that maintained an increasing amount of advancement through its expansion and exposure of culture, politics, and trade because of its complex communication with outside societies. Malacca’s Growing Economy Malacca had become one of the most dominant trading cities in the world during its existence and it played a crucial role in the stability of interaction between different cities and civilizations surrounding itself. It had an enormous impact on other civilizations and cities since it allowed its cultural, religious, and economic influence to spread through land and sea routes that it was connected to. Malacca was positioned on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula in between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and it was near a water channel where rivers formed a harbor used as a port in trade. Its position allowed the city to trade with places such as China, Burma, the Philippines, India, Sumatra, northern Java, the Spice Islands, and Mindanao. Merchants from all over the world had traveled to Malacca to gain products in trade. The monsoons, which were winds, affected when people could travel to Southeast Asia so many merchants would stay in Southeast Asia for longer periods of time before they could travel back to their home again. Many merchants traveled to Malacca since its continuous uprising success in its large number of ports allowed trade to easily be practiced in Southeast Asia between other cultures.  One of the most common beliefs being spread through the ports of Malacca throughout Southeast Asia during 600-1450 CE was the religious faith of Islam. Although Malacca practiced the religion of Hinduism, the leaders in Malacca converted to Islam when Muslims used conversion by the sword to gain more followers to their religion and so the rest of the people living in the city did so as well. Islam spread through trade and from Muslim merchants' ships in Malacca by sea routes since the religion was open to any converts From Malacca, Islam’s influence gained converts from the Spice Islands, the Philippines, Sumatra, and Java. Islam had eventually become a popularly practiced religion in Southeast Asia. Since it became so common in Southeast Asia, Islam also helped further connect India, its homeland, to the areas it spread to which increased the amount of communication in the world. Malacca was involved with long distance trade since it was used as a trading port for many goods being exchanged as both imports and exports to and from the city. It played a huge role along both the silk routes, spice routes, and many water routes taken by ships across the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and South China Sea. Trade in Malacca was controlled by Sultans who provided the goods and sold them, made ships for sea routes, and controlled actions of goods being traded taken place at the ports. The Sultans therefore often contacted emperors and rulers from other civilizations which led to the development of more advanced connections to trade throughout the world. Most of the goods traded on land routes during this time included any goods that were of high value and weight while heavier materials traveled on sea routes.

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Some of the most popularly traded goods were spices, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, and cloves which were transported through Malacca from Southern India to China. China exported porcelains, silk, and textiles as their main products to Arab and Indian traders in Southeast Asia for trade. Burma, located in Southeast Asia, also often exported many items to Malacca including precious stones, silver, and foods. Malacca's main exports to Burma from other cities consisted of pottery and various spices. Siamese merchants visiting Malacca exported goods such as rice, dried fish, wine, and slaves. Merchants from the Philippines brought food, wood, and gold to Malacca. Many items exported from Malacca came from other places which among these goods were steel, stones, silk, coral, and architectural materials. ======  When it came to spreading culture, the many different people in Malacca not only traded religions and manufactured goods but also traded beliefs and ideas dealing with politics, cuisine, and language. There were over 80 languages spoken in Malacca due to the interaction of so many large amounts of diversity communicating in the city through trade. Many new foods were introduced into Malacca through trade, so culture was also in this way. Government ideas were spread through the leaders that came into contact when discussing trade between their civilizations and government in Malacca further developed. There were also 50,000 people living in this city after its advanced achievement in communication throughout its time. Malacca had eventually been conquered by the Portuguese and Dutch and its economy then slowed down over time as its leading power changed often. Since its origin though, Malacca had reached a towering point of success and became one of the most important and well-known cities because of through its trading, exchange, and interaction with the rest of the world that increasingly benefited their economy.

 Malacca’s Social Aspects
 Malacca was made up of many different races, religions and cultures, making it a diverse and advanced socially. The social structure was made up of different classes created by officials, which were arranged by the first ruler of Malacca. Throughout the years, Malacca gained new ideas for the officials and its population increased with people coming from both in and around Asia. Among the people located in Malacca were the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba-Nyonya, Portuguese and Chitty. Each group of people had their own religious beliefs, lifestyles, and languages that ended up mixing together in Malacca. The Malays were the overall ethnic group that inhabited the Malay Peninsula. This ethnic group was a distinct concept of the Malay race which included many other cultures, such as from Indonesia and the Philippines. Many new languages were introduced into Malacca, from so many people coming to the city for trade, religious, political, or travel purposes. The Chinese moved from China, down to the Peninsula and into Malacca. They spoke Chinese and studied Buddhism, which was a philosophy that focused on an individual seeking enlightenment through the Eightfold Path to achieve Nirvana and be released from reincarnation. People from India also traveled on sea routes to live in Malacca, and spread their culture when they got there. They originally studied Hinduism but most converted to Islam after Muslim invasions. Baba-Nyonya was a group of people that was a mixture of Chinese descendants and Malaysian. The Baba-Nyonya’s adopted the Malayan dress, language and religion, but retained some Chinese traditions. The Portuguese entered Malacca from Portugal and helped spread the increasingly practiced faith of Islam. They had conquered Malacca and ruled the city. The final group of people that were found in Malacca who shared their cultures throughout the city were the Chitty’s, who were Tamil people, also known as Indian Peranakans. They spoke the Malayan language, but added some Tamil words into their dialect of the religion. The Chitty people studied the Hindu religion and were among the many influences on Malacca's combination of cultures.

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 Malacca had a diverse amount of religions practiced since there were so many different separate ethnic groups existing in the growing city of trade. The most dominant religion in not only Malacca, but also the surrounding area of Malaysia was that of Islam. The mosques, churches, and temples scattered around and located in religious communities in Malacca created a stylistic sense of artwork and architecture, enhancing the advancement of success in the city. ======

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 The food in Malacca was brought from many cultures from around Asia. Malay, Western, Chinese, Indian, and Thai were the main cuisines served. A unique meal brought to Malacca was the Piquant Portuguese dish. These reflect the community’s ideal influence on the state. Also, Malacca is the birthplace of Peranakan cooking. This was a mixture of Chinese and Malay “savory” dishes. Almost every type of food combination from parts of Asia could be found in Malacca. These meals consisted of chicken rice ball from China, Nyonya Laksa and Pong Teh from Baba-Nyonya, and Satay Celup from Malay. ======

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Malacca's first ruler was Parameswara who helped to develop its class systems. There was a specific class system for the authorities and the court officials. This class acted as the agents of the ruler for maintaining the old customs in Malacca. The classes start at the top, the Bendahara. The Bendahara was known as the younger brother of the ruler. When the ruler was away, the Bendahara would fill his place until he returned. The next one was the Perdana Menteri. There was not a specific way to classify the Perdana Menteri but that he sat facing the Bendahara in the “audience hall”. Then, the Penghulu Bendahari was next in the classes. This official was known ‘as seated below the Bendahara’, or as inferior to the Bendahara. Next, the Hulubalang Besar, also known as ‘captain-in-chief’ sat next to the Penghulu Bendahari and controls the captains and military commanders. Another title for him would be ‘Tun Tempurung Gemerentak’. Finally, the last group of officials is the Other Lesser Ministeres which contains body gaurds, lords, noblemen, knights, palace attendants, courtiers, heralds, and captains. Malacca eventually changed these classes but kept some of them remained unchanged. The Bendahara was changed to be the father-in-law of the king instead of the younger brother. The Perdana Menteri was yet another member of the royal family. Lastly was the Penghulu Bendahari, who was the son-in-law of the Bendahara. The workings of these officials have just been changed to more royal members of the family and older relatives. ======

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 Malacca was greatly influenced by outside forces. Being an important port city, Malacca was able to prosper and start relations with commercial empires. It is possible that the prince who founded it named it after the Tamil word 'mallakka'. The prince who founded Malacca later converted to Islam and thus began the long Sultanate of Malacca. ======

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 Shortly after it was founded, Malacca began to become an international port city. Its location between Malaysia and Singapore and in the center of the straights of Malacca allowed it to easily flourish through trade. Both western and eastern civilizations such as the Chinese Empire, Siamese, Gujarat, Arabs and Europeans traded with Malacca. The wealth it quickly accumulated was threatened by Siamese invasions in 1446 and 1456. The Bendaharas, people who held a position similar to Prime Minister, in Malacca were able to counter these invasions. However, Malacca was still at risk of another invasion and if they wanted to survive they needed the help of a strong empire. ======

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 These dangers lead Malacca to begin relations with China. This relationship seemed to be a mutual need for both sides. Malacca was an important resting port for Zheng He's fleet. China sent the Ming emperor's princess to marry Mansur Shah who was the current Sultan of Malacca. Her 500 attendants intermarried with the citizens and settled in Malacca. These marriages acted as a treaty which strengthened the bond between Malacca and China. ======

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> This treaty kept Malacca safe until 1511 when the Portuguese arrived with a fleet of 17 ships and 1,200 men. Malacca was to be used as a base for the Portuguese to expand to the East Indies. However, the final Sultan, Sultan Mahmud Shah, was causing havoc by raiding by sea and land at random intervals. Aggravated, the Portuguese attacked the Sultan and drove him away and ended the Sultanate of Malacca (if it wasn’t already ended once Malacca was invaded). The Portuguese were not able to control trade in Asia as Malacca had. With the Malay state gone to patrol the Straights of Malacca, trade became more chaotic. ====== <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%;">The Portuguese's failure to control Asian trade shows that Malacca wasn’t important solely because of its location. Many other empires attempted to take Malacca and struggled to establish themselves as the great trading outpost it was. Malacca's politics had held the Straights of Malacca and the Malay Peninsula together in a common goal of trade.

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Malacca had an advantage to being successful in trade since its origin because its location was so beneficial to contact other cities nearby. The city expanded the variety of goods that were traded along the land and sea routes during this time, leading many regions to become rich and stable with resources. Religions also spread through sharing philosophical influence to gain converts to the developing missionary religions. Cultural and political ideas were spread by rulers from city to city that helped maintain good connections and allies to other civilizations forming. Malacca had a diverse amount of people living in it, since it was so successful and attracted people to live in a complex city. Malacca had become so powerful and such an influential city only because the trade routes that connected it to other cities led it to be able to achieve the economic, social, and political stability it did. ====== <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

References Platt, C. (1979). Malacca. //The Atlas of Medieval Man. New York: St. Martin's Press. // Prepared under the auspices of the Asia Society. Editor in chief: Embree, T.Ainslie.(1988) Malacca. //Encyclopedia of Asian History (//Vol. 2: Guan-Mima). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons