Chapter 1.1: What is History?
Watch this video for a quick overview of what the study of history is all about.
Credits: MOE CPDD
What does History matter today?
Watch this video to find out why the study of History is still relevant to our lives today.
Credits: MOE CPDD
What study History?
Watch this video to learn why the study of History is valuable and useful .
Credits: MOE CPDD
Rewriting history: Singapore
In June 2021, archaeologists unveiled items like rare ceramics from two historic shipwrecks found over the last few years. The earliest shipwreck dates back to the 14th century, and provide new evidence of Singapore's early history. Will history be rewritten?
Credits: Asia Featured (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey8mwgOf6gM)
Chapter 1.2: How do we use sources to inquire into Singapore's early history?
Do historians only look at old books to find out about the past?
This video discusses the historical concept of evidence. In it, we learn about the range of sources historians use to find out how Singapore was like before 1819.
Credits: MOE CPDD
The Sejarah Melayu
Read the Sejarah Melayu (the Malay Annals) translated by John Leyden (1821) in this website.
Credits: Wikisource
If you're interested, you can also read the article "Legends of the Malay Kings" by BiblioAsia (NLB) to learn more about this book.
The Founding of Singapore
1299 - The Singapura Kingdom begins
This story retells the legend of the founding of Singapore with the arrival of Sang Nila Utama.
Credits: Singapore Bicentennial Office (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5pzkc6kSAg)
Did Sang Nila Utama really see a lion?
Explore this article by Kontinentalist that discusses the legend of the founding of Singapore - including the significance of a lion as well as the possible animal that Sang Nila saw that day.
Credits: Kontinentalist
1330 - Singapore's Early Settlements and Trade
In this video we learn about Singapore during the 1300s as told through the writings of Wang Dayuan.
Credits: Singapore Bicentennial Office (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eY5ADXlOno)
《新加坡前传》第二集:我们的土著是谁?
Who were the local natives of Singapore?
This video discusses the lives of the people in Singapore in the 14th century through Wang Dayuan's writings and artefacts found in Fort Canning (with English subtitles).
Credits: zaobao.sg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Z5Mx7ALCg)
What is archaeology?
This video introduces the study of archaeology and how this is used in the study of Singapore's past.
Credits: NParks
Roots.sg Presents: The Mythical Origins of Singapura
In this video, museum director, Kennie Ting, discusses the mysteries surrounding the origins of Singapura. This includes the discovery of the "Majapahit gold" and other artefacts excavated in Singapore as well as the Keramat in Fort Canning.
Credits: Roots.sg, National Heritage Board
The Legend of Badang and the Singapore Stone
The Legend of Badang
Video on the story of the Legend of Badang and the Singapore Stone
Credits: NDP, 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1ITpB_9cqI)
Let our curators tell you more
Episode 1: The Singapore Stone
In this video, head curator, Iskandar Mydin, shares more about the origins and importance of the Singapore Stone.
Credits: National Museum of Singapore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID-tL_LfktA)
If you're interested to learn more about the Singapore Stone, you can read this article "A Fragment of History - Ancient Legend of the Singapore Stone" by Roots.sg, National Heritage Board.
The Legend of Bukit Merah
The Legend of Bukit Merah
Video on the story of the Legend of Bukit Merah
Credits: NYP/SIDM 2011 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h58Oqj_hTBg)
The Fall of Singapore in the late 1300s
1389 - Singapura Falls for the First Time
This video presents two different accounts of how Singapura fell in the late 1300s.
Credits: Singapore Bicentennial Office (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_iia5-eTis)
Parameswara and Temasek: The Sacking of Singapore
This comic presents the story of Parameswara, a prince from Palembang, Indonesia, and how he gained control of Temasek.
Credits: Foo Swee Chin (2019). Parameswara and Temasek: The Sacking of Singapore. Ethos Books.
A project by Singapore Bicentennial
1400s - The Orang Laut
In Tome Pires' depiction of the fall of Singapore and rise of the Melaka Sultanate, we read about the Orang Laut (the Celates). Watch this video to find out more about these fearless warriors, loyal sailors and expert fishermen and their role in the history of the Malay archipelago.
Credits: Singapore Bicentennial Office (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0SSKKMCusA)
Bonus! What happened to Singapore between 16th to 18th centuries?
The following videos provide additional context of Singapore's pre-1819 history. If you're curious about what happened in Singapore before the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles (which is covered in Chapter 2), you may want to watch the following videos!
Singapore during the 16th to 18th centuries
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Singapore's influence waned and in its place the Melaka Sultanate, and later the Johor Sultanate as well, rose to power. How did developments in the Melaka and Johor Sultanates affect Singapore? How did the colonial rivalry between the Portuguese and Dutch affect Singapore? Find out by watching this video.
Credits: Singapore Bicentennial Office