Malaya and Its History (R.O Winstedt)

Malaya and Its History consists of two parts, which are A History of Malaya by R. O. Winstedt and Early Indian Influence in Malaysia by R. J. Wilkinson. In A History of Malaya, Richard Winstedt inevitably found his unifying thread in the history of South-East Asian trade and colonization. After a brief introduction to the prehistory of the peninsula, he discussed the evidence of Indian cultural influence from the fourth century to the fall of Temasek (Singapore) 1000 years later.

He went on to deal with the Malay Empire, in Malacca—the beginning of a continuous Malay political tradition with its center in the Peninsula; the Portuguese and Dutch activities in the Straits of Malacca; the continuation of the Malacca tradition in the Malay Empire of Johore; early British trade and settlement; and finally the establishment of British political authority in the Malay State themselves.