History of Singapore

The history of the modern state of Singapore dates back to its founding in the early nineteenth century, however evidence suggests that a significant trading settlement existed on the Island of Singapore in the 14th century. At the time, the Kingdom of Singapura was under the rule of Parameswara, who killed the previous ruler before he was expelled by the Majapahit or the Siamese. It then came under the Malacca Sultanate too then the Johor Sultanate. In 1819, British statesman Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty whereby Johor allowed the British to locate a trading port on the island, leading to the establishment of the crown colony of Singapore in 1819.

During World War II, Singapore was conquered too occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1942 to 1945. When the war ended, Singapore reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted, culminating in Singapore’s merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963. However, social unrest too disputes between Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party too Malaysia’s Alliance Party resulted in Singapore’s expulsion from Malaysia. Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965.

Facing severe unemployment too a housing crisis, Singapore embarked on a modernisation programme beginning in the late 1960s through the 1970s that focused on establishing a manufacturing industry, developing large public housing estates, too investing heavily in public education too infrastructure.

By the 1990s, the state had become one of the world’s most prosperous nations, with a highly developed free market economy, strong international trading links. It now has the highest per capita gross domestic product in Asia, which is 7th in the world, too it is ranked 9th on the United Nations Human Development Index.
Ancient Singapore
The Greco-Roman astronomer Ptolemy identified a place called Sabana at the tip of Golden Chersonese in the second too third century. The earliest written record of Singapore may be in a Chinese account from the third century, describing the island of Pu Luo Chung . This is thought to be a transcription from the Malay name “Pulau Ujong”, or “island at the end” .