Much of Singapore’s early history is a mix of sketchy reports and legends passed down through the ages. A third-century account by a Chinese explorer refers to Singapore as Pu-luo-chung, translating the Malay words Pulau Ujong which means simply “island at the end” – presumably ay the end of the Malayan Peninsula.

Traders travelling between China and India have been plowing the waters around Singapore since the 5th century AD.

The 1365 Javanese epic poem Negarakretagama identified a settlement called Tamasek, Water Town, on Singapore island. Chinese trader, Wany Dayuan, who visited Singapore around 1330 and referred to the settlement as Danmaxi, reported that there were also some Chinese living on the island.

The Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals has the most colourful and well-known account account of how Singapore got its present name. As the story goes, Sang Nila Utama (or Sri Tri Buana), ruler of Palembang, landed at Temasek one day while seeking shelter from a storm. Sighting an animal that his followers called a lion, he decided to establish a settlement and named it Singapura. In Sanskrit, “singa” means lion and “pura” means city.

Excavations done in various parts of the island have provided some physical evidence of its history from the 14th century. Professor John N Miksic and his team excavated a site at Fort Canning and found many artefacts including ceramics from the Yuan Dynasty period, Indian glass beads, Chinese porcelain ware and copper coins indicating that the island had a flourishing trade with countries in the region. More such artefacts were unearthed at the Old City Hall building in 2009 while excavating for renovations to transform this iconic building into the National Art Gallery.

During the 14th century, Singapore was caught in the struggle between Siam (now Thailand) and the Java-based Majapahit Empire for control over the Malay Peninsula. According to Sejarah Melayu, Singapore was defeated in one Majapahit attack. Later a prince of Palembang, Iskandar Shah, also known as Parameswara, killed the local chieftain and installed himself as the island’s new ruler. Shortly after, he was driven out, either by the Siamese or by the Javanese forces of the Majapahit and fled north to Malacca where he founded the Malacca Sultanate. Singapore remained an important part of the Malacca Sultanate; it was the fief of admirals, including Hang Tuah.

In the early 15th century, Singapore was a Thai vassal state, but the Malacca Sultanate which Iskandar had founded quickly extended its authority over the island. Malacca’s decline began in 1511, when it fell under the sway of the Portugese. The Muslim merchants and traders that had founded the commercial success of Malacca fled from the new Catholic rule, and another, smaller sultanate established itself in Johor, at the southern end of the Malaysian Peninsula, across the causeway from Singapore.

In 1641, the Dutch wrested Malacca from the Portugese. They held power until 1875, when Holland’s defeat in a war in Europe saw the British seizing Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia, including Malacca.

With the end of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, the British agreed to hand back Dutch possessions in 1818. Some British were disappointed by this anti-climax to their country’s bid to expand its influence in Southeast Asia. One of them was Stamford Raffles, the Lieutenant Governor of Java.

The following year 1819 the British, under Sir Stamford Raffles built a trading post on the island, which laid the groundwork for modern Singapore. The island was seen as an ideal base from which to challenge Dutch trade supremacy in Southeast Asia, and the British invested a great deal in making sure it flourished.