Hello historians. In today's video, we embark on a journey into the rich history of the ancient city-state in Singapore, famously known as Singapura or the Lion's City. During the 19th century, European historians initially perceived Singapore as a humble fishing village, only to witness its metamorphosis into a cosmopolitan trade center when English colonizers established a bustling port near the entrance of the Strait of Malacca.

Sir Stamford Raffles, serving as the British governor of the settlement on Sumatra, stumbled upon this port in 1819 during his quest for a suitable harbor for British vessels. Firmly convinced that he had identified the legendary Kingdom of Singapura mentioned in the Malay Annals, Raffles faced skepticism from his contemporaries regarding its actual existence. Nevertheless, contemporary archaeological surveys have unearthed compelling evidence validating the existence of a thriving port city in Singapore long before British intervention.

Join on this captivating voyage through time as we unravel the mysteries of the ancient Lion's City nestled within the modern-day Singapore.

For more information on the ancient history of Singapore see:

Wong Lin Ken, “The Strategic Significance of Singapore in Modern History,” The Great Circle 4, 1 (April 1982): 25-40.

Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar, “The Lion City’s Glorious Past,” Archaeology 70, 6 (November-December 2017): 61-68.

Brian E. Colless, “The Ancient History of Singapore,” Journal of Southeast Asian History 10, 1 (March 1969): 1-11.