FEM2401
TOPIC 1
TOPIC 1
Early history and background of
the society
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OUTLINE OF TOPIC 1
EARLY HISTORY
• Pre-history (before 1 AD)
• Early inhabitants in
Malay Land
• Early Malay kingdom
• Malay states and empire
• Malacca Sultanates
BACKGROUND OF THE
SOCIETY
• The society before
colonial rule
• The society after colonial
rule
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FEM2401
TOPIC 1
LEARNING OUTCOME
• To understand the early Malaysian history
• To explain the background of Malaysian society
• To understand the history of the society before and after
the colonial rule
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INTRODUCTION
• In the early years Malaysia was known as “Tanah
Melayu” (Malay Land) and “Malaya” during British era,
also called as Malay Peninsular (current Peninsular of
Malaysia)
• “Tanah Melayu” was part of Malay Archipelago or also
called as Malay world
• Malay Archipelago (see the map) - Malay islands – the
region of Malay race
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EARLY HISTORY : BEFORE COLONIAL
RULE
Before century animism
1-13 C: Influence of
Hinduism/Buddhism
15 C – the
advent of Islam
Colonial
history –
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CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS OF MALAYSIAN HISTORY
EARLY HISTORY
-Prehistoric times
- Early Malay kingdoms
(Hinduism/Buddhism)
Malacca
empire/sultanate
1400-1511
(The dissemination
of Islam)
Japanese
occupation
1942
British’s
intervention
1874-1941
British –
Dutch Treaty
1824
British back
to Malaya
1945-1957
Malaya
Independence
1957
The formation
of Malaysia
1963
Portuguese’s
attack -1511
Dutch in
Malacca
-1641
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Pre-historic time
EARLY INHABITANTS OF MALAYSIA
• There are few theories and debates about the early inhabitants in the Malay
Land.
• External migration theory vs internal migration – Migration from Southern China
to the South East Asia region vs internal migration within the Malay Land.
• Indigenous in Malaysia – The Malays, ‘Orang Asli’, natives of Sabah and
Sarawak
• The Malays (majority and dominant group) = an ethnic group of Austronesia
• Lived as early as 2000 before century in the area of Malay land (current Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Southern
Thailand, Southern Myanmar)
• Early inhabitants
• ‘Orang Asli’ or Negrito ethnic groups and Proto Malay (of two waves of migration)
• Descendants from Proto Malay – settlement of old Malay kingdoms such as Old Kedah, Langkasuka, Gangga
Negara etc. – Hindu/Buddhist influence
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN THE PREHISTORY
Paleolithic
– Early
stone age
- 35 000
years ago
Mesolithic
- Middle
stone age
– 11 000
years ago
Neolithic –
New stone
age - 10
000-5000
years ago
• Niah caves,
Sarawak;
Perakman in
Lenggong,
Perak
• Cha Cave,
Kelantan;
Madai Cave,
Sabah
• Cha Cave,
Kelantan
Bronze
age 2500
years ago
• Sungai
Lang,
Sungai
Langat
(Selangor)
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PALEOLITHIC
Living in caves – forest hunters /
hunter-gatherers- stone tools
Kuala Tampan (Perak), Niah Cave, (Sarawak),
Tingkayu (Sabah)
MESOLITHIC
Living in caves & settled
near river/water source–
farmers– refined stone
tools
Cha Cave (Kelantan), Kecil Cave (Pahang), Kepah Cave
(Kedah), Jenderam Hilir (Selangor), Madai Cave (Sabah),
Gamantang Cave (Sabah), Gua Niah
NEOLITHIC
Farming/animal rearing –
trading - jewellery
Bronze – open area settlement
– established customs –
kingdom
Cha Cave (Kelantan), Kecil Cave (Pahang), Kepah Cave
(Kedah), Jenderam Hilir (Selangor), Madai Cave (Sabah),
Gamantang Cave (Sabah), Gua Niah
BRONZE
Sungai Lang, Sungai Langat (Selangor), Sungai Muar
(Johor), Sungai Tembeling (Pahang), Sungai Terengganu,
Kota Gelangi (Johor)
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EARLY MALAY KINGDOMS
• 1 – 13 century
• Location - centered at coastal / riverside areas
• Main activity – as a trading port
• Hindu-Buddhist influence
• Funan kingdom 1-6 century (Part of Cambodia, Southern
Thailand and northern part of Malay Peninsular))
• Srivijaya kingdom 7 -11century (based in Sumatera,
IndonesiaMalay Peninsular
• Majapahit 13C after the fall of Singhasari in Jawa.
• Majapahit ended with the rise of Malacca sultanate
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EXAMPLE OF EARLY MALAY
KINGDOMS
Malay Islands
• Kutei (Borneo)
• Majapahit, Singhasari &
Mataram (Jawa)
• Funan (Sg. Mekong)
• Champa (Vietnam)
• Srivijaya (Sumatera)
Malay Peninsular
• Kedah Tua, Kedah
• Gangga Negara, Perak
• Chih-Tu, Kelantan
• Tan-tan, Terengganu
• Langkasuka, Patani
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MALAY SULTANATES/MALAY-MUSLIM
KINGDOMS
The Islamisation in the Malay Land (Malay
Archipelago) began between 10-13 century
The beginning of Malay-Muslims kingdoms
•
•
•
•
Acheh - 7th to 13th century
Pasai - 8th to 14th century in Sumatra
Malacca (Melaka) - 13th to 15th century - in the Malay Peninsula.
These kingdoms were renowned as commercial (with an
international port)
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MALACCA EMPIRE (MELAKA)
(1400-1511)
• Melaka history is very important to Malay’s history
• Melaka was founded in 1400 by Parameswara, a prince who
descended from Sumatera
• A great empire and entrepot under Malay rule (Sultanates)
• Strategic location – international route between China and
India, Middle East, Asia and Europe – international trading
• The beginning of the Malay state political system
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MALACCA-THE BEGINNING
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MALACCA - THE GLORY
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MALACCA EMPIRE
The glory
and golden
Age of
Malacca
(1400-1488)
- well known
empire in
Malay
Archipelago:
Centre of Islamic studies/knowledge
International trading port – many foreign merchants came
to Malacca for trade – good economic system/low taxes
Malay language as the lingua franca – in the region
Good diplomatic relations with China, Java and India
Had a systematic political/administration – Good sources of
law system based on Islamic law (Laws of Malacca and
Maritime Laws of Malacca)
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FACTORS AFFECTING THE FALL OF THE
MALACCA EMPIRE (1488-1511)
INTERNAL FACTOR EXTERNAL FACTOR
Weak Administration /
Political conflict
Portuguese factors
Foreign traders’ factors
MALACCA FALL IN 1511
The beginning of a long series of foreign intervention and domination over
Malay Lands
The emergence of Malay-Riau empire
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THE SOCIETY
The structure of the society before the colonial rule – centralised on the Malays
The majority
• Malay Peninsular : The Malays and Orang Asli
• Sabah and Sarawak : The native of Sabah and Sarawak (more than 60 sub-ethnic groups)
• Currently known as indigenous society (Bumiputera or Peribumi)
The migration of other Malays community from Indonesian islands (internal
migration of Malays community)
Malacca Sultanate/Empire – some (minor) changes after more interaction from
other part of the worlds and international trading; more immigrants/traders
• Small settlement of Chinese and Indians community – mostly traders, some Arabs.
• Baba and Nyonya – an ethnic group results of the inter-racial marriage between Malay and Chinese
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• Two phases:
THE SOCIETY BEFORE
THE COLONIAL RULE
1. Before the arrival of Islam
2. After the advent/arrival of
Islam
BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF ISLAM (1- 3 CENTURY)
• The influence of Hinduism/Buddhism in the region – through
traders mainly
• Socio-political structure was based on Hindu caste (class)
system
• Five classes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Brahmins: rulers, nobles and religious experts
Kesyatria: warlords and troops who assigned to defend their religion and
state
Wesya: the administrators of state, district and village levels.
Sudra: independent groups and full services to the above first three classes
No classes : slave and prisoners of wars
Brahmin
Kesyatria
Wesya
Sudra
No classes
• Marriages between classes prohibited, the lower classes obliged
to follow the upper class order.
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THE MALAY SOCIETY BEFORE THE COLONIAL
RULE: After the advent of Islam (7-13 century)
• Islam brought changes to the Malays society
• Devaraja concept of Hinduism was replaced by the Caliphs of
Allah concept
• Caste system was replaced by Sultanate system
• Lower class had more meaningful life and freedom
• Islamic culture and way of life
• Shariah laws : e.g during Malacca empire there were Malacca
Law and Malacca Maritime Law
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MALAY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
• Traditional society – "a society that has not been
exposed to modernization process triggered by the
Industrial Revolution in the 18th century"
• Malacca empire and before colonial rule
▪ Traditional Malay society consists of :
• Feudal Malay society during Malacca Sultanate
• Malay society before the British colonialism
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MALAY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
Religion and culture
• Early stages – the influence of animism
• Early 1st century was influenced by the culture and religion of
Hindu-Buddhist
• Beginning the 10th century began to accept Islam – Islam as the
religion
• Inherited some Hinduism culture - existed in some customary laws
and Malay culture
• Arts and culture
• Malay architecture – the Malay traditional house
• Keris – Malay traditional weapon
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MALAY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
Social
• Family as an important social unit
• Noble values like respect for elders were taught at home.
• The importance of education at home – religious classes (Quran
teaching) main education among the Malays.
• Islam and customary laws
• The customary laws of the Malays
• Adat Perpatih –based on matriarchy (Negeri Sembilan)
• Adat temenggung (Patriarchy) (all states except Negeri Sembilan)
• Currently – may not fully practiced
• Popular proverbs “biar mati anak, jangan mati adat” – demonstrate the
importance of laws and customs to the Malays to maintain etiquette and
individual behaviour in society.
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MALAY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
Economic system
• Trading and agriculture activities
• The Malay were traditionally trader/seafarer than agriculturist – based on
their settlement (coastal area) and the role of the trading port/entreport
of the Malay kingdom. Trade relations with other countries.
• Self sufficiency economy (Subsistence economic) : ie, farming, fishing,
mining, rearing animals, carpenter etc.
• Exchange system - barter system
• Economic activities - to fulfill the needs of the family. Farming activities
within family – small scale.
• Ruling groups such as aristocrat and chieftain controlled the economic
activities – land taxes and rent, merchant taxes
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MALAY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
Political System
The political system based on the structure of a feudal society consisting
of social classes - influenced by the Hindu religious caste system
Divided into two social-political classes
1.
Rulers/upper classes: king and noblemen
2.
Absolute power monarchy
•
Concept of daulat (sovereignty of the ruler) and derhaka (treason to the authority)
•
Ruled/lower classes: ordinary citizens such as traders/traders, labourers (skilled and
ordinary) and slaves.
• Administration:
• 3 main political units and administrators: State (King), District (Dignitary) and
Village (Village headman or Penghulu)
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General socio-political structure of Malay traditional society
Sultan/Raja
(Head of state)
The
ruling
power
Aristocrat
(Dignitary/Ministers/A
dministrators)
Deputy Rulers/Officials
Headmen/Chieftains
Citizen (and small groups of non citizen)
The
ruled
Slaves
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An example of political and administration
structure: Melaka State (Before colonial rule)
Highest leader
Sultan/Raja
(Head of states)
Highest Administrator/Principal
Officer (Dignitary)
Bendahara
(similar as Prime Minister/advisor
to the Sultan)
Administrators/Ministers
Penghulu
Bendahari
(similar to
Treasurer)
Syahbandar
(Harbour
master)
Laksamana
(An admiral/Related
to navy and maritime
matters)
Temenggung
(Minister in charge
of Defense/Justice
and Palace Affairs)
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DURING COLONIAL RULE
Between 1511-1824: Political structure - not much changed – except
Serani/Eurasian and Baba Nyonya community - Christianity
1824: British-Dutch Treaty – Significant changes to the society – more
traders
1826: After British settlement (Stamford Raffles) – more Chinese traders
migrated to the Malay states for the tin mining
1874 marked the formal intervention policy of the British in Malaya through
Resident System.
All Malay states were “forced” to accept a British resident / advisor –
change the political hierarchy
Political change – affected the social structure and economic system of the
Malays and state
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DURING BRITISH RULE
Introduction of new economic system – commercial economics
and capitalist system– export and commercial agricultural –
cash crops
Foreign / migrant labours
• Kangany and Kangchu system – migration of many Chinese and Indian
workers – tin mining workers, rubber plantation workers/estate
• plural society emerged
The ethnic composition in Malay Peninsular:
• The Malays, Chinese, India, European and others
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THE CHANGES:
Before colonial → colonial period
Before
Islam
Malacca
empire
• The Malays/
(majority)
• Small groups
of other
• The Malays
(majority)
• Small
communities of
Chinese, Indian,
Arabs and etc
British rule
•
•
•
•
The Malays
The Chinese
The Indians
Other migrants
from neighbouring
island/region
British rule
(Sabah &
Sarawak)
- Native of Sabah
and Sarawak
- Chinese
- European
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AFTER COLONIAL
The
Malays
The
Chinese
The
Indians
(majority/
(non
indigenous)
(non
indigenous)
indigenous)
Native of
Sabah
Native of
Sarawak
Other
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CONCLUSION
The evolution of the Malaysian society – based on the
historical events – British era – significant impact to the
plurality of the society
From homogenous to heterogenous society
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