The History of Malaysia

Long before the name Malaysia existed, the land was home to ancient hunter-gatherers and early farming communities whose traces remain in caves and river valleys. Indian traders and missionaries brought Hindu and Buddhist influences, giving rise to small but prosperous kingdoms. From these roots grew the Malacca Sultanate, founded by Parameswara around 1400, which became one of the great trading ports of Asia and the gateway through which Islam spread across the peninsula. The Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, beginning a long era of European rivalry over these strategic shores. The Dutch followed, then the British, who established the Straits Settlements at Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, and gradually extended their influence through the Federated Malay States. Waves of immigration from China and India reshaped the population, creating the diverse society that Malaysia is known for today. Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo had their own histories under the Brooke dynasty and the North Borneo Company before coming under British administration.