A race for territory
Once the Western powers saw how rich the Malay world was, they began to compete with one another to seize land and control trade. The Portuguese came first. In 1511 they captured Melaka by force, seeking to control the spice trade. About 130 years later, in 1641, the Dutch — working with the Sultan of Johor — drove the Portuguese out and took Melaka for themselves.
Key idea
Three main powers competed here in turn: the Portuguese (1511), the Dutch (1641), and finally the British, whose rivalry with the Dutch shaped the Malay world.
The British arrive
The British, acting through the English East India Company, wanted a base on the trade route to China. They took Penang in 1786 and founded Singapore in 1819. This alarmed the Dutch, who controlled the islands of the Indonesian archipelago to the south. For years the two powers argued over who should control which ports and seas.
Settling the rivalry
To avoid a costly war, Britain and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of London in 1824. It divided the Malay world between them and ended the worst of their quarrel. The competition among Western powers shows how valuable our region was, and how each power was willing to use force, treaties or trade to win control.
Remember
- Portuguese captured Melaka in 1511.
- Dutch took Melaka from the Portuguese in 1641.
- British gained Penang (1786) and Singapore (1819).
- British–Dutch rivalry was settled by the Treaty of London 1824.