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Overview
The Sultanate of Melaka (1400 – 1511) was a great Indian Ocean entrepôt. British Malaya was federated in 1948 and independent by 1957, with Sabah and Sarawak joining in 1963.
Basic Information
CapitalKuala Lumpur
Population34 million
Area330,803 km²
CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (MYR)
LanguagesMalay, English
RegionSoutheast Asia
History Timeline
- 1400Founding of the Sultanate of Melaka
- 1511Portuguese capture Melaka
- 1874 – 1957British Malaya
- 1957Independence
Ancient Peoples
- Malays
- Orang Asli
- Peranakan Chinese
Ancient Kingdoms
- Melaka Sultanate
- Johor Sultanate
Empires
- Srivijaya
- Portuguese
- Dutch
- British
Religions
- Sunni Islam
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Christianity
Culture
Petronas Towers, batik, wayang kulit, nasi lemak.
Language
Malay is national; Mandarin and Tamil are widely spoken.
Important Battles
- Portuguese capture of Melaka1511
European inroad into Southeast Asia
Historical Figures
Tunku Abdul Rahman
1957 – 1970
Founding prime minister
Archaeological Sites
- Bujang Valley
- Lenggong Valley
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Melaka & George Town
- Lenggong Valley
- Kinabalu Park
Dynasties
- Melaka sultans
- Johor sultans
Colonial Period
Portuguese (1511), Dutch (1641), British (1786 – 1957).
Modern History
Federal constitutional monarchy.