Where is Malacca (the peninsula)? Countries located on the peninsula of Malacca

Few people have heard of the existence of the peninsula of Malacca in Southeast Asia, although it can not be called small. Anyone who is a little geography-oriented, can better imagine where the given geographical object is, if you remember about such famous islands as Singapore and Sumatra. The first of them is in the southern direction of the peninsula, and the second - in the south-west. Moreover, Sumatra divides the Malacca Strait with the peninsula .

Malacca is a peninsula, the territory of which is divided into three parts. Each of them belongs to one of the states: the southern part - Malaysia, the northern part - Thailand and the north-west - Myanmar.

Economy of the Malay Peninsula

Rubber here is considered the raw material from which the peninsula receives the most revenue. It is not only grown, but subjected to primary processing. A smaller share in the economy is accounted for by the cultivation of oilseeds and coconut palms and rice. Since the peninsula is pushed far into the ocean and almost from all sides by its waters, it is not surprising that local residents of the coastal strip are engaged in catching fish. For industrialists, the peninsula of Malacca is not very attractive. Minerals are scarce here.

Here, bauxite is mined - aluminum ore. Not so long ago, deposits of tin ore were being developed , but recently the works have been suspended due to the reduction in volumes. Countries located on the peninsula of Malacca, live by producing rubber and fishing.

Historical digression

Who just did not appear temptation to take possession of the peninsula. It is known that in the period 1-6 centuries AD the northern part of Malacca was under the control of the state of Funan.

From the 7th to the 14th century, the peninsula was part of Sumatra - the empire of Srivijaya, which was replaced by the Majapahit state by military resolution of the issue. It was during this period in this part of Southeast Asia that Indo-Buddhism reached its apogee.

Between 1400 and 1403, the construction of the city of Malacca began on the instructions of the Prince of Sumatra, named Paramesvara. The place was chosen well - the mouth of the river, the shore of the strait with the same name - the harbor proved to be very convenient strategically. The favorable location between the two great powers of Asia, which are considered India and China, later contributed to the fact that the city of Malacca turned into a rapidly developing shopping center not only the peninsula. In half a century there were more than 50 thousand inhabitants in it.

In 1405, Admiral Zheng He, who came to the peninsula as ambassador, proposed the patronage of the Celestial Empire over the peninsula and guaranteed that the neighboring state of Siam would no longer make a claim. With the blessing of the Chinese, Prince Paramesvara received the title of King of the Peninsula along with the nearby islands. Arriving in a huge number of merchants from Arab states brought to Malacca a new religion, which very quickly won the hearts and minds of the local population. King Parasvara, keeping pace with the times, in 1414 decided to become a Muslim with a new name - Megat Iskander Shah. Malacca is a peninsula that has seen many changes.

Wars that hamper development

In 1424, a conflict erupted between the conservative Malayan-Javanese aristocracy, which occupied the position of Hinduism, and the group headed by the merchant-Muslims. The struggle ended in 1445, the result was the victory of the Islamic group. Raj Kashima became the ruler of the country, he is Sultan Muzaffar Shah I.

In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, sailing merchant vessels from neighboring countries, from the Middle and Middle East, delivered porcelain, silk, textiles, gold, nutmeg, pepper and other spices, camphor and sandalwood to the port. In exchange, tin was exported, which the subjects of the sultanate were mined in large quantities. The peninsula of Malacca is part of the southern limb of the Indochina Peninsula.

There was a situation in which the feudal lords could not divide the power among themselves, and the ruling circles could not reach agreement with the Javanese and Chinese merchants, from time to time the vassals rebelled. As a result, the situation led to the decline of the Malacca Sultanate. This in the beginning of the 16th century was taken advantage of by the colonialists from Portugal.

The first attempt in 1509 ended in the defeat of the Portuguese fleet from the Malachkans, who suddenly attacked the invaders. The Portuguese returned in two years, headed by the commander of d'Albuquerque. As a result of a successful assault, a strategically important port was seized by Europeans. Sultan, resigned to his defeat, was forced to leave the city limits, and then fight back to the southern regions of the peninsula and take refuge in Johor. The winners began to develop colonial territory. Following the military detachments were Christian missionaries, who first set up religious buildings. The Portuguese, after the capture of Malacca, built a fortress to strengthen their positions.

The Dutch are in power

After a couple of centuries enterprising Dutch began to show interest to Malacca. In 1641, after almost half a year of siege, the city still surrendered to the mercy of the new colonialists. The Dutch conquerors decided to choose a safer place for the capital. It was Batalavia (in the modern version - Jakarta), and the city of Malacca received the status of a guard outpost.

The Dutch owned the peninsula for almost a hundred and fifty years, until in 1795 their rivals - the British - did not come here. In 1818 and 1824 there was a change of domination, his transition from the English to the Dutch, and then vice versa. Since 1826, Malacca (the peninsula) finally became part of the colonial empire of England.

In 1946-1948 in this region of Southeast Asia the peninsula of Malacca was listed in the Malayan Union, since 1948 - the independent Malayan Federation. In 1963, Malacca, having received the status of the state, entered the state of Malaysia.

The modern peninsula of Malacca

The centuries-old stay under the rule of the first Chinese, and then Europeans, especially the Portuguese, affected the cultural development of the peninsula. Representatives of both civilizations are characterized by compact communities. This is directly related to the place where the Malacca Peninsula is located.

Almost the entire coast from the Malacca Strait is a series of excellent beaches that are studded with pleasant white sand. Waiting for low tide, tourists can collect many sea shells with unique coloring and unique forms.

Recreation includes, among other things, canoeing or boating, breathtaking scuba diving into the depths of the sea.

Capital and other cities

On the peninsula is the capital of the state of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, which is located in the south-western part of it.

At the huge international airport there are representations of more than 40 airlines of different countries. Malacca is a peninsula that is visited by thousands of tourists annually.

Kuala Lumpur is famous for its many attractions, which will leave only the warmest impressions: Menar's tower of 421 meters high, 88-story Petronas Twin Towers, parks "Gardens near the lake" with a total area of 91.6 hectares, Datan Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul's palace Samada and others.