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Malacca
Malacca (Melaka), Melaka/Malaysia A state, a city‐port founded c.1400, and a powerful Muslim sultanate during the 15th century. Taken by the Portuguese in 1511, by the Dutch in 1641, and by the British in 1824; two years later it became one of the original Straits Settlements. The name may be derived from the Sanskrit āmalaka ‘emblic’, a deciduous tree common here. According to a Portuguese account written in 1515, Sri Paramesvara, a Malay Hindu prince of Palembang (on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia), arrived at the site of the present city‐port c.1403 and saw a white mouse deer kick one of his hunting dogs into the water. He considered this to be a rare sign of courage for so small an animal and he took it to be a good omen for the establishment of a permanent settlement. Because he was standing under an āmalaka at the time he gave the settlement this name. However, it has also been suggested that the name is derived from the Sanskrit mahā ‘great’ and lankā ‘island’. Paramesvara converted to Islam and became the first ruler of the Sultanate of Malacca. The city has given its name to the Strait of Malacca between Sumatra and Malaysia which connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea.
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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Malacca." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Malacca." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Malacca.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Malacca." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Malacca.html |
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Malacca
Malacca (Melaka) Malaysian state on the Strait of Malacca, sw Malay Peninsula; the capital is Malacca. The city was founded in 1403 and prospered as the leading trade centre for e Asia. The Muslim sultanate of Malacca became the region's most powerful empire, and the centre for the spread of Islam throughout Malaya. In 1511, Malacca was conquered by the Portuguese. In 1641, the Dutch seized the region and fortified the city. In 1824, it was ceded to Britain. In 1957, it became a state of independent Malaya and, in 1963, of Malaysia. Area: 1658sq km (640sq mi). Pop. (2000) 602,867.
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"Malacca." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Malacca." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Malacca.html "Malacca." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Malacca.html |
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Malacca
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Cite this article
"Malacca." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Malacca." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Malacca.html "Malacca." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Malacca.html |
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