Melaka
remained to be the main trading base along the Straits of Malacca, for the VOC
had also concluded treaties with other Malay states which were rich in tin. In
fact, at the end of the 18th century Melaka rose
again as a Southeast Asian entreport par excellence. More Asian traders, especially Chinese and Bugis (from Celebes,
Indonesia), traded here again although the VOC were monopolistic in their
policies.
The picture shows the warehouses of the VOC located at the Ground floor/basement of the Stadthuis (Town Hall).
The
Straits of Malacca had become a major highway for traders from the East and
West (no longer between China and India alone, but between Europe and Asia). By
17th
century, the Dutch VOC and the British East Hindia Company were among the
regular Europeans, beside the Portuguese, to ply this route. The well-sought
after trade in this area remained to be the fabulous Chinese silk and
porcelain. Melaka’s role as the centre of spice trade from the Indonesian
Archipelago had started to decline under
the Portuguese. The latter had constantly been facing attacks by their Malay
neighbours. VOC attention was to take Melaka and remove their European
competitors from the Straits of Malacca. This they were able to do by allying
themselves with the Malays in Johore Kingdom (immediate neighbour of Melaka).
Several wars later, and after a five-month siege of the Melaka harbour, the
Portuguese surrendered in 1641, 130 years after they had forever removed the
Malay Sultanate from Melaka.
powerpoint presentation (MVTP&DHT)
power point presentation
