The early history of Malaysia is all about the spice trade. The first kingdom we know about in Malaysia was the kingdom of Melaka. It was founded in the 1400s. Arab traders made it centre of the spice trade. Spices were extremely valuable in Europe. Some spices, like cinnamon, were more valuable than gold or silk! In 1511 A.D. The Portuguese tok over Melaka so they could control the spice trade. Later, the dutch captured it so that they could control the spice trade. Then in 1786 the British took the Island of Penang and founded the town of Georgetown. Gradually the British took over the whole peninsula and by 1824 teh Dutch had left Melaka.