101383 While the earliest known historical records of Singapore are shrouded in the mists of time, a third century Chinese account describes it as "Pu-luo-chung", or the "island at the end of a peninsula".
101384 Later, the city was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"), when the first settlements were established from AD 1298-1299.
101385 During the 14th century, this small but strategically located island earned a new name.
101386 According to the legend, Sang Nila Utama, a Prince from Palembang (the capital of Srivijaya), was out on a hunting trip when he caught sight of an animal he had never seen before.
101387 Taking it to be a good sign, he founded a city where the animal had been spotted, naming it “The Lion City” or Singapura, from the Sanskrit words “simha” (lion) and “pura” (city).
101388 At this time, the city was then ruled by the five kings of ancient Singapura.
101389 Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the natural meeting point of sea routes, the city served as a flourishing trading post for a wide variety of sea crafts, from Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships to Buginese schooners.
101390 The next important period in the history of Singapore was during the 18th century, when modern Singapore was founded.
101391 At this time, Singapore was already an up and coming trading post along the Malacca Straits, and Britain realised the need for a port of call in the region.
101392 British traders needed a strategic venue to refresh and protect the merchant fleet of the growing empire, as well as forestall any advance made by the Dutch in the region.
101393 The then Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen (now Bengkulu) in Sumatra, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore on 29 January 1819, after a survey of the neighbouring islands.
101394 Recognising the immense potential of the swamp covered island, he helped negotiate a treaty with the local rulers, establishing Singapore as a trading station.
101395 Soon, the island’s policy of free trade attracted merchants from all over Asia and from as far away as the US and the Middle East.
101396 In 1832, Singapore became the centre of government for the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore.