1. Competition
between the
Dutch and the
British

2. • The Malay Archipelago, Melaka and
Java was controlled by the Dutch
during the 18th century
• In India, the British East India
Company was set up by the British.
• In India, the trade activities by the
British was concentrated.
• The high demand of tea in 18th the
century made them extend their
trade activities to China

3. • The 2 trading settlement in the Malay
Archipelago that belonged to the
British facilitates their trade
activities with China and the Malay
archipelago.
• The 2 trading settlements are in
Penang and Bencoolen
• The Dutch and the British have a
fierce competition to control the Asia
sea trade route

4. Factors that led to the British
to look for a new trading
settlement
• Break the Dutch trade monopoly
• Safeguard the lucrative trade with
China
• Ineffective existing trading centres

5. Break the Dutch trade
monopoly
• The British and the other European ship
are restricted by the Dutch to trade at
Batavia in Java and not other ports
controlled by the Dutch such as Melaka
• High port fees and heavy taxes are also
imposed by the Dutch on the ship that
stop by Batavia
• The foreign traders are demanded to fly
the Dutch flag by the Dutch and apply
for the permit or pass of the Dutch
before they can carry out trade in the

6. • The 2 nation became fierce rivals
because of the Dutch trade monopoly
• This implies that the British were
determined to have a new trading
settlement which could be a good
location of a port to safeguard the
British ship and to reduce the dangers
of the Dutch trade monopoly

7. Safeguard the lucrative trade
with China
• A highly lucrative trade with China
was established by the British. Tea
and opium were the main things being
traded
• The British were worried that the
trade would be affected if the Dutch
continue to extend their power in the
Malay Archipelago
• This implies that the British would
continue to enjoy the trade

8. Ineffective existing trading
centers
• In Penang and Bencoolen, the British
had trading settlements
• The ports in Penang and Bencoolen
were not suitable to be major trading
centers for the British as Penang was
too far north of Melaka; it was away
from the Straits of Melaka which was
the main passageway for ships to sail
in between India and China

9. • The British ship using the Straits of
Malacca to carry out trade with China
could not be protected by Penang
• It was also too far off for the
British to investigate the Dutch’s
activities in the region
• The Archipelago traders are not
willing to come all the way to Penang
to trade.
• Penang was frequently attacked by

10. • The Indian Ocean was faced by
Bencoolen instead of the Straits of
Melaka. Despite it controlling the
entrance to the Straits of Sundra, it
was less important for trading which did
not attract the traders in the Malay
Archipelago
• This implies that the British want a new
trade settlement which provide them a
stopover point to replenish food supply
on the ship, service and maintence their
ship, offer a resting place for the crew

11. Summary
The Malay Archipelago, Melaka and
Java was controlled by the Dutch
during the 18th century. The British
East India Company in India was built
by the Dutch. The British’s trade
activity in India was concentrated.
The high demand of tea in 18th the
century made them extend their
trade activities to China.Breaking the
Dutch trade monopoly, safeguarding
the lucrative trade with China and the
ineffective existing trading centre led