Old Malay Cities in Malay Historiographical Texts

Abstract

Cities are treated as cultural artefacts that could showcase the achievements of a kingdom and highlight the civilisational elements of its people. At the same time, cities are posited as one example of Malay architecture, whose role in the everyday lives of the Malay society is examined. These observations are made upon the study of the role of cities from the architectural aspect, which includes layout and design, raw materials, and amenities that are featured in a city. In fact, cities are often the subject matter of traditional texts including Malay historiography. Informed by this approach, this article focuses on two objectives, namely identifying the design and building materials of old Malay cities and explaining the role of the city. Based on two historiographical texts, this study finds that old Malay cities were built using similar designs although other variables like building materials, time, and place of construction changed. The cities' infrastructure also made use of natural resources that were readily available in the surroundings. Additionally, the design and choice of building materials of old Malay cities play defining roles in turning the cities into fortress-cities and secure settlements, and even in the naming of the cities. It is hoped that this paper will contribute towards diversifying perspectives and source materials in the study of urban worldviews as well as enriching the cultural heritage of the Malay society.