Appendix D: Chronological Timeline of Temasek/Singapore

From 13th Century to 21st Century

DISCLAIMER

Source: This timeline was compiled with assistance from Claude AI (Anthropic) on October 17, 2025, using web searches of publicly available historical sources.

Accuracy Notice: While every effort has been made to ensure historical accuracy through cross-referencing multiple sources, readers should note:

• Historical records from the 13th-14th centuries are fragmentary and sometimes contradictory
• Dates, especially for medieval Temasek, may vary between different historical sources
• Some events (particularly from the early period) are based on archaeological evidence and scholarly interpretation rather than definitive documentation
• This timeline is intended as a general reference for creative and educational purposes

For Academic Research: Readers requiring precise historical information for scholarly work should consult primary historical sources and peer-reviewed academic publications.

AI-Generated Content: This document was created through human-AI collaboration. The author takes responsibility for the final content and its use in this novel’s appendices.

13th-14th CENTURY: TEMASEK ERA

c. 1298-1299

• First documented settlement called “Temasek” (meaning “Sea Town”)
• According to legend, Prince Sang Nila Utama (Sri Tri Buana) from Palembang landed on the island, saw a creature he believed was a lion, and founded “Singapura” (“Lion City”)

1320

• Mongol Empire sent trade mission to “Long Ya Men” (Dragon’s Teeth Gate), believed to be Keppel Harbour

c. 1330

• Chinese traveler Wang Dayuan visited and described two settlements: Long Ya Men (inhabited by Orang Laut and Chinese) and Ban Zu (on present-day Fort Canning Hill)

c. 1349

• About 70 Siamese war boats besieged Temasek for a month but were repulsed

1365

• Javanese eulogy Nagarakretagama listed settlement called “Tumasik” as vassal of Majapahit Empire

Late 14th Century

• Last ruler Parameswara (also known as Sultan Iskandar Shah) was attacked by either Majapahit or Siamese forces and fled to found Malacca Sultanate
• Archaeological evidence suggests main settlement on Fort Canning was abandoned around this time

15th-18th CENTURY: DECLINE & OBSCURITY

15th Century

• Singapore came under control of Malacca Sultanate

1511

• Portuguese conquered Malacca; Singapore described as “great ruins” by this time

16th-17th Century

• Singapore came under Johor Sultanate control with a shahbandar (harbourmaster) at Kallang

1613

• Portuguese burned down trading settlement at mouth of Singapore River; island sank into obscurity

17th-18th Century

• Dutch gained dominance over regional trade, establishing monopoly over spice trade in the archipelago

19th CENTURY: BRITISH COLONIAL ERA

29 January 1819

• Sir Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore; found small Malay settlement with about 150 people (120 Malays, 30 Chinese)

6 February 1819

• Treaty of Singapore signed between Raffles, Sultan Hussein Shah, and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, establishing British trading post
• Recognized as official founding of modern Singapore

1819-1824: Rapid Growth

• 1819: $400,000 trade volume; 1821: Population ~5,000, $8 million trade; 1824: Population 10,000, $22 million trade, surpassing Penang

1824

• Anglo-Dutch Treaty; entire Singapore Island ceded to British for monetary payment

1826

• Singapore, Penang, and Malacca combined as Straits Settlements, forming residency under British India

1867

• Straits Settlements became Crown Colony under Colonial Office in London

1869

• Opening of Suez Canal boosted Singapore’s importance as major port between Europe and East Asia

1873-1913

• Trade expanded eightfold; Singapore experienced exceptional prosperity

20th CENTURY: WAR, INDEPENDENCE & DEVELOPMENT

1939

• British naval base completed at cost of $500 million, with world’s largest dry dock; called “Gibraltar of the East”

8 December 1941

• First Japanese bombs hit Singapore following Pearl Harbor attack

15 February 1942

• Singapore fell to Japanese forces; renamed “Syonan-to” (“Light of the South”)
• About 80,000 British, Indian, Australian and local troops became prisoners of war

February-March 1942

• Sook Ching massacre: 25,000-50,000 Chinese and Peranakan civilians killed

12 September 1945

• Lord Louis Mountbatten received formal Japanese surrender; British Military Administration formed

1 April 1946

• Singapore became separate Crown Colony with civil administration

1959

• Singapore achieved self-government; Lee Kuan Yew became first Prime Minister

16 September 1963

• Singapore merged with Federation of Malaya, forming Malaysia

9 August 1965

• Singapore expelled from Malaysia; became independent republic with Yusof bin Ishak as first President

21 September 1965

• Singapore joined United Nations as 117th member

8 August 1967

• Singapore co-founded ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

1970s

• Singapore became thriving regional financial center and achieved full employment
• Strong clusters emerged in electronics, petrochemicals, precision engineering

1981

• Singapore Changi Airport opened

1980s

• Singapore became world’s leading producer of hard disk drives
• Upgraded to higher-technological industries including wafer fabrication
• Unemployment fell to 3%; real GDP growth averaged 8% until 1999

1985

• Only recession in Singapore’s history while global economy still growing

1990

• Lee Kuan Yew resigned as Prime Minister; Goh Chok Tong succeeded him

1990s

• Insurance and securities industries completely liberalized; progressive opening of banking to foreign competition
• Singapore established highly developed free market economy with strong international trading links

1997-1998

• Singapore affected by Asian financial crisis but recovered better than neighbors

21st CENTURY: GLOBAL HUB

2005

• Government allowed two casinos within integrated resorts

2010s-2020s

• Economic strategy shifted to productivity-driven growth model; curbed lower-skilled foreign labor
• Transitioned to knowledge and innovation-based economy through investments in R&D and human capital

2017

• Halimah Yacob inaugurated as eighth President (first female President) in first reserved presidential election

2019

• Singapore celebrated Bicentennial (200 years since 1819 founding)

Present Day

• Highest per capita GDP in Asia (7th in world); ranked 9th on UN Human Development Index
• Population: 5.4-5.6 million
• Major global financial, trading, and technology hub

Key Themes Across the Centuries

1. Strategic Location: From 13th century trading post to modern global hub
2. Maritime Heritage: Continuous importance of sea trade and Orang Laut navigators
3. Multicultural Society: Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arab traders since medieval times
4. Resilience: Survived attacks, colonialism, war, expulsion from Malaysia
5. Economic Transformation: Fishing village → Colonial port → Independent trading hub → High-tech financial center

SOURCES & VERIFICATION

This timeline was compiled using web searches of the following types of sources:

• Singapore National Library Board archives
• National Heritage Board historical records
• Academic historical texts on Southeast Asian maritime history
• Government historical documentation
• Museum collections and archaeological reports

Compiled by: Matt Roman (Author)
Research Assistance: Claude AI (Anthropic, October 2025)
Date of Compilation: October 17, 2025

Note to Readers: For citations in academic work, please refer to primary sources. This timeline serves as a general historical framework for the novel Straits of Temasek and should not be considered a substitute for scholarly historical research.