Singapore · MOE Syllabus Outcomes
Secondary 1 History
Secondary 1 History: Southeast Asian history, early civilisations, the maritime empires of Srivijaya and Majapahit, and the story of early Singapura. Students build a foundation in the region's deep past.
The Historian's Craft & Early SE Asia
Introduction to historical inquiry and the geographical foundations of the Southeast Asian region.
Understanding the nature of history, primary and secondary sources, and why we study the past.
Examining the geography of Southeast Asia and how monsoon winds shaped movement.
Exploring how physical remains like pottery and tools tell the story of early humans.
The development of rice farming, bronze tools, and settled village life.
How ideas, religions, and trade goods from India and China reached Southeast Asia.
A look at the earliest recorded kingdoms in mainland Southeast Asia and their maritime links.
Srivijaya: A Maritime Empire
The study of the powerful maritime state based in Sumatra that controlled the Straits of Malacca.
How Srivijaya rose to power by controlling vital trade routes through the Straits.
Srivijaya as a world-renowned centre for Buddhist study and pilgrimage.
Daily life, religion, and culture in a bustling international port city.
Understanding Srivijaya's diplomatic relationship with the Tang and Song dynasties.
Investigating factors like the Chola raids and shifting trade patterns.
Tracing the long-term cultural and linguistic impact of Srivijaya on the Malay world.
The Majapahit Empire
The study of the Majapahit Empire of Java, one of the largest states in regional history.
How the empire emerged in Java and expanded across the Indonesian archipelago.
The failed Yuan dynasty invasion of Java and how it led to the founding of Majapahit.
The life of the famous Prime Minister and his vow to unite the archipelago.
Hindu-Buddhist traditions, monumental architecture, and literature.
The importance of wet-rice cultivation and Majapahit's dual agrarian-maritime economy.
The development of shadow puppetry and distinct Javanese artistic styles.
Arrival of Islam and the transformation/decline of the Majapahit Empire.
The Malacca Sultanate
The powerful Islamic trading state that dominated the Straits and shaped the Malay world.
The legend of Parameswara and the growth of the port.
How the conversion of the rulers transformed Malacca into a centre for Islamic propagation.
The bustling trade and diverse society of merchants from across the world.
The height of Malaccan power, diplomacy, and the expansion of its territory.
The sophisticated system of managing a global trade hub through port officers.
The Portuguese conquest in 1511 and its impact on the region.
The continuation of the Malaccan line and the founding of the Johor-Riau Sultanate.
Early Singapura
The history of Singapore before 1819, from Temasek to the Johor-Riau Sultanate.
Archaeological evidence for an ancient settlement on Singapore.
Examining the "Malay Annals" and the legendary founding of Singapura by Sang Nila Utama.
The significance of Bukit Larangan as a seat of ancient royalty.
Singapura's links to the Johor-Riau Sultanate and the Temenggong.
The role of the "Sea People" in the history and security of Singapura.
Singapore just before the arrival of the British in 1819.
European Expansion in SE Asia
The arrival of European powers and the shift in regional trade dynamics.
Why European powers like the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch sailed to Southeast Asia.
The rise of the first multinational corporation and its dominance in the East Indies.
The expansion of British interests from India into the Malay Archipelago.
Spanish colonial rule and the Galleon Trade connecting Asia to the Americas.
The intense competition between the Dutch and the British for control of trade routes.
How improvements in shipbuilding and navigation aided European expansion.
Analyzing the different viewpoints on the early stages of European colonial presence.
The Founding of Modern Singapore
The 1819 treaty, the role of Raffles and Farquhar, and the early years of the settlement.
The reasons why Stamford Raffles sought a new British base in the Straits.
The legal and political maneuvers used to establish the British factory in Singapore.
The practical challenges of building the settlement and Farquhar's contributions.
How the policy of "free trade" turned Singapore into a booming entrepot.
The diplomatic agreement between the British and Dutch that settled their spheres of influence.
The treaty that saw the Sultan and Temenggong cede Singapore to the British.
The 1822 urban planning of Singapore and its impact on social organization.
The administration of John Crawfurd and the consolidation of British rule.
Life in 19th-Century Singapore
The social history of the early settlement, immigration, and the diverse communities.
The causes of immigration from China, India, and the Malay Archipelago.
The social structure of the Chinese community and the role of clan associations.
The diverse Indian population and the role of convict labour in early infrastructure.
The role of the Malay aristocracy and the influence of Arab traders and scholars.
Living conditions, disease, and the lack of social services in the early town.
The administrative union of Singapore, Malacca, and Penang in 1826.
The development of the police force and the challenges of policing a lawless frontier.
Why the merchants of Singapore wanted to be ruled directly by London instead of India.
Reflecting on the journey from Temasek to a thriving British Crown Colony.