GES1011: Lecture 5 - Colonial Remaking by British

Europeans have been dominating silk roads to dominate the spice trade and was willing to wage wars. The Dutch were dominant.

There was a difference between the ottomans and the other european power. The ottomans are quite dominate but they are more dominant in the mediterranean sea. 

The Dutch was joined by the British. (EIC)

- The EIC presence were effective at the late 1700s

- EIC looking for a foothold in the straits to control the spices.

They found penang but penang is too far north and still looking for a point of control towards southern end of straits.

The EIC becomes caretaker of some of VOC's possession in fear that France would move to wield its influence.

The EIC through Raffles, established in Singapura/Singapore in 1819.

All the British ask for is for a loji, (Factory or industrial space). The british was not taking over the island but looking for a lodging space. Raffles had found out about singapura from the Sulalat.

Tension between VOC and EIC further because of singapore.

EIC and VOC decided to avoid a trade motivated war and signed a Anglo- Dutch Treaty in 1824.

The british move to formalise control and in the June 1823, Raffles got the sultan to sign such that other than Kampong glam, singapore is colony of Britain.

The british and the Dutch split the map on who can control which territory and that has given us the present day map.

Raffles wanted a global emporium.

Singapore's river was reimagine and engineered to become a trading point

He wants the singapore river to become a walk in department store.

Within 2 decades, 

Singapore was an infrastructure supporting a maritime emporium

The south bank was partially reclaimed and embanked.

There was free trade thus many people were attracted to import and export. There is also no port charges. Many prices sold in singapore are very competitive and globally attractive.

Other than goods, tech also came to singapore. Looking at the perceptive of someone who is not european respond to the arrival of Europeans.

Abdullah Bin Abdul Kadir had a position of contact with the European and had an opportunity to gain a glimpse of steamship.

However, Abdullah was given a peek into its mechanism and was in awed by the invention. 

Abdullah boast about the greatness of the European because of the industrial revolution that happen in Europe and the great inventions that came with it.

Open book consist of 8-9 MCQ/ short response questions 

In class Test.

MCQ

-> Offer a explanation required for option chosen

Tricks:

=Major trick=

Standalone questions which requires thinking and reflect on issues raised in module.

Week 2/3/4 readings.

Reflection questions included

= The response is expression on your subjectivity in response to a question/observation/opinion/etc =

We will not be tested on knowledge of content, the more persuasive your response is, the better the score.

Offer an interpretation that is hopeful, original, innovative, interesting or still arresting