Malacca is Malaysia's most historic city. Its origins can be traced to the 14th century with the founding of a fishing kampung (village) by a fugitive prince from Sumatra. Thanks to its strategic location on the Strait that bears its name, Malacca was from its earliest days an intermediary center of trade. Sheltered from the monsoons by the island of Sumatra, the settlement was perfectly located for merchants to take advantage of the trade winds. When Singapore was still s fishing village, Malacca had already achieved fame and by the beginning of the 16th century, was the most important port in the region. Foreign merchants traded in Indian and Persian textiles, spices from the Moluccas, silk and porcelain from China as well as gold, pepper, camphor, sandalwood and tin. |
