Why did Malacca become a rich port?

Six hundred years ago, Malacca was a small fishing village. By the year 1500, it was one of the busiest ports in the world. Ships came from China, India, Arabia and Java, and people in its streets spoke more than eighty languages. How did a village become so rich so quickly?

The first reason is where it is. Malacca is on the Strait of Malacca, a narrow sea between the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra. Ships sailing between China and India had to pass through it. This put Malacca on the main sea route between the east and the west.

The second reason is the wind. Ships at that time had no engines, so they needed the monsoon winds. From about November, the wind blows from the north-east and carries ships from China towards Malacca. From about May, it blows from the south-west and carries ships from India. Traders often had to wait in Malacca for months until the wind changed direction. While they waited, they bought and sold goods: silk and tea from China, cloth from India, and spices from the islands.

The third reason is the way the port was run. The sultan's officers kept the harbour safe from pirates, who attacked ships and stole their goods. They built warehouses, so traders could store their goods safely while they waited for the wind. They also used fixed weights, so nobody could cheat when they bought or sold. Traders paid a tax on their goods, and this money made the sultan very rich. In return, the traders knew they could trust the port.

So Malacca did not become rich because it made things. It became rich because it was the place where people from many countries met to trade. Its wealth also made other countries want it. In 1511, the Portuguese attacked the city and took control of it, and the great years of the port came to an end.