Malacca-Dutch Trading Post Network

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