The historical cities of Malacca and George Town, located along the Strait of Malacca, have developed amid the commercial and cultural exchange between the East and the West over the last 500 years. Both cities maintain a wide array of tangible and intangible cultural assets, comprised of government buildings, churches, plazas, fortresses, and more, exhibiting both Asian and European influence.
As one of the primary points along the Maritime Silk Road, Malacca is essentially the heart of Asia’s maritime trade. During the Middle Ages, the Strait of Malacca was a strategic corridor that functioned as a main maritime route, connecting the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, while also promoting the active trade of spices and other goods. The 14th century witnessed Prince Parameswara, native to Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, utilize these grounds to build the Islamic Kingdom of Malacca, establishing the Malacca Sultanate. The geographical importance of the channel further enabled the kingdom to prosper, as it acted as a thoroughfare amid trade between East and West. During the first half of the 15th century, the kingdom went on to establish tributary relations with the Ming Dynasty, as modern-day Malacca served as the first stopover along the South China Sea route for the great expedition of the Ming Dynasty’s Zheng He. However, following the fall of the kingdom to Portugal in 1511, Malacca became the first European colony of Asia, before being conquered and ruled by the Dutch in the 17th century. It went on to be utilized as an entrance of a sea route to the East, having been occupied by the British from the dawn of the 19th century. This long history of colonial rule by Western powers ultimately left numerous historical remnants all across Malacca, of which the fortresses of St. Paul’s Hill and St. John’s Hill are among the most notable.
As a strategic point at the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca during the British occupation of Penang Island in 1786, George Town was developed into a harbor city. It later evolved into a trading hub along the western coast of the peninsula, exporting goods such as copra (a raw material of coconut oil), tin, and rubber. In fact, it was one of the main, traditional city complexes of Southeast Asia, attracting a significant Chinese and Indian presence. The heart of the downtown area is home to around 200 Chinese temples, mosques, and Hindu temples, while currently, the city sets the stage for various festivals of each ethnic group. The residential and industrial structures also capture the historical and cultural significance of the British colonial era.
As former colonial cities along the Strait of Malacca, Malacca and George Town offer a glimpse into the Islamic culture of the Malay people, the culture based in the Buddhist and Taoist beliefs brought from China, as well as the complexity and cultural mosaic of the melting pot society, derived from the simultaneous presence of a multitude of immigrants and indigenous peoples. One can also witness the influence of history and culture, stemming from the commercial harbor that once bridged the worlds of East and West. These remarkable cities additionally showcase not only the varied and abundant cultural assets of the Maritime Silk Road, but also the characteristic yet distinct architecture left behind. Though countless rulers have since come and gone, the cities remain alive with the colorful variety of languages, religions, customs, festivals, symbolism and rituals that help make them home to a host of spellbinding UNESCO tangible and intangible cultural assets.
Written by Professor Seok-joon Hong (Mokpo National University)
KOREA FOUNDATION
