When Penang was known only its oysters and Singapore was just a fishing village, Melaka had already achieved worldwide fame. Under the auspices of Melaka Sultanate, founded in the early 15th century, political and cultural life flourished, helping to define what it means to be Malay. The town grew rich by trading spices from the Moluccas in the Indonesian archipelago and textiles from Gujarat in northwest India. A levy on all imported goods made it one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the world and it gradually expanded its territory to include Singapore and most of east-coast Sumatra. Yet, beginning in 1511, a series of takeovers and botched administrations by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, caused the subjugation of the Malay people; Melaka's modern-day authorities are still working towards reversing the city's decline.

Legacies of all phases of Melaka's past remain in the city, constituting the main tourist sights. Of these, the most interesting are the ancestral homes of the Baba-Nonya Community, a new racial mix also known as Peranakan that evolved from the 16th century Chinese merchants who settled here and married Malay women. For a one-stop introduction to the city's history, watch the English-language Sound and Light Show on Padang Pahlawan.

Local Travel Agent(s):
	Arahmas Damai Travel & Tours SDN. BHD
	Address: No. 75 Jalan Taming Sari, 75400 Malaysia Phone: +60 6 2925482, 017 3922699, Fax: +60 6 2925482