Singapore #1: Early History

Singapore is surprising, writes Way Yuhl:

“Singapore pumps no oil, digs no ore, and farms almost no land, yet its economy produces over $90,000 US dollars per person a year, the highest in Asia, one of the highest in the world.”

 

In the Indian Ocean, the winds change direction with season. This was a big deal in the era of wind powered ships.

“A trading ship could sail with one wind from China or India down to the strait, but it could not sail home until the wind turned. That forced wait kept foreign traders in the strait’s harbors, and their trading made whichever port controlled the strait’s trade rich.”

Singapore was one such port.

 

When the imperialists came, not surprisingly, they fought for control of these critical ports (Spain, Portugal, Britain). Tax the trade, and often prevent your rivals from even using the port. The British tried a different model: control the port, but make it free for all. No wonder that traders moved away from the Dutch ports and preferred British Singapore.

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Then came steam powered ships. And the Suez Canal opened, reducing the Europe-Asia travel time and thereby increasing the volume of ships on these routes. The ships had to re-fuel somewhere, and Singapore switched to become a re-fuelling port.

 

The Malay peninsula produced over half the world’s tin, and rubber too. Singapore became the port of choice to export these, adding to its riches.

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Most Singaporeans were outsiders, open to the possibility of success and failure. The port history also meant they were exposed to and open to strangers and outside influences. All these traits continue and benefit them even today.