Assessments of Singapore's history invariably revolve around Sir
Stamford Raffles' arrival in 1819. Before this date - we've been told -
"nothing very much appears to have happened in Singapore". Pre-1819
Singapore was a sleepy, historically insignificant fishing village,
little more than the "occasional resort of pirates". This ambitious
book, co-written by four of Singapore's foremost historians, offers an
assertive re-evaluation of that view, firmly situating Singapore's
starting point seven hundred years ago. Drawing on a multi-disciplinary
range of archival, textual and cartographical records, as well as the
latest archaeological discoveries, the authors cast a singular
historical trajectory for Singapore over the past seven centuries,
animating its history like never before. Written in a compelling and
accessible manner, and richly illustrated with more than 200 artefacts,
photographs, maps, art works and ephemera, this volume builds upon the
foundations of an earlier book, Singapore: A 700-Year History.
Extensively rewritten to incorporate ground-breaking research findings,
Seven Hundred Years: A History of Singapore widens the historical lens
and offers a vital new perspective on the story of Singapore.