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 five leading historians of Singapore history, offers an assertive re-evaluation of that view. Drawing on a multidisciplinary 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 two earlier editions, published in 2009 and 2019. Fully revised and updated to incorporate groundbreaking
research findings, this third edition of Seven Hundred Years: A History of Singapore widens the historical lens and offers a vital new perspective on the story of Singapore.
