In 2008, the
cities of George
Town on
Penang Island
and Malacca
(or Melaka)
were added to
the World
Heritage List.
Together they
have witnessed
more than 500
years of trade and cultural exchange along one of the world’s
greatest sea routes.
Lawrence Butler explores the cities’ cultural heritage and
shows how their monuments and living neighborhoods reflect
the Malay, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, and Chinese
communities that still flourish there.
6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Malacca
Once the pivot of the spice trade between India and China,
Malacca was fortified and held by a succession of European
powers. Today, its museums and neighborhoods preserve
memories of those tumultuous times.
8 to 9 p.m. George Town
Established as a British trading post in the 18th century,
Penang Island’s thriving modern capital, George Town, retains
its Victorian charm and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods.
The temples and shops share public space with handsome
mosques, Christian churches, and Hindu and Buddhist temples.
Butler is an associate professor of art history at George
Mason University.