Malacca
Malacca (or Melaka in Malay) is a state of Malaysia, located in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. The state's capital is also called Melaka or Malacca.
Stadhuys, Malacca
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2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Sights 5 Transportation 6 External link |
Malacca was founded by Parameswara, a Srivijayan prince who left Sumatra in 1396. He converted to Islam in 1414, thus creating a Malay sultanate in order to further his enmity with the Majapahit Empire. What started as a fishing village then grew into the most important port in the region, serving as a stopping point for China-India trade during the two monsoon periods.
The cultural result of the vibrant trade was the Peranakan people, who spread to other major settlements in the region.
The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent several months in Malacca in 1545, 1546 and 1549.
Malacca was occupied August 24th 1511 by the Portuguese Alfonso d'Albuquerque and later by the Dutch before it was ceded to the United Kingdom in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.
From 1826 to 1946 Malacca was governed by the British East India Company as part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Penang. After the dissolution of this crown colony, Malacca and Penang became part of the Malayan Union, which later became Malaysia.
Baba-Nyonya House in Malacca, Malaysia
There is still a Eurasian minority of Portuguese descendants with Catholic denomination in Malacca, who speak an ancient Portuguese dialect called Cristao.
History
Geography
Demographics
Sights
Transportation
External link
Malaysia
Johor | Kedah | Kelantan | Malacca | Negeri Sembilan | Pahang | Perak | Perlis | Penang | Sabah | Sarawak | Selangor | Terengganu | Federal Territories