The Portuguese influence in Indonesia: "kue pastel" anyone?
I had the pleasure of a quick trip to the Indonesian resort island of Bintan this weekend. At the breakfast buffet, I came across this...
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Spencer Low
- Jul 31
- 2 min
The Portuguese connections of some iconic aspects of Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian culture
In my last post about kerosang, I described how this traditional piece of jewellery for wearers of the kebaya blouse comes from the...
1,975 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Jul 23
- 2 min
How the Straits Chinese introduced the Malay word "kerosang" from the Portuguese
The Straits Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia are a unique culture, a centuries-old blend of Chinese and Malay. One of their traditional...
1,050 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Jun 21
- 1 min
Kristang, a Portuguese creole language, still lives on in Southeast Asia
I recently visited the Eurasian Heritage Gallery in Singapore, a museum at the Eurasian Association that commemorates the complex history...
273 views1 comment
Spencer Low
- Jun 11
- 3 min
From the curry puff to the digital and green transitions
Yesterday, June 10, was Portugal's national day and our Portuguese friends are enjoying a long weekend. The Portuguese ambassador to...
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Spencer Low
- Jun 6
- 2 min
How Singapore could have been Portuguese (or Spanish...)
I recently went to the Singapore National Museum and came across this quote about what is now Singapore highlighted on a wall: Who is...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 18, 2021
- 2 min
How China became known as China, thanks to the Portuguese
In the Chinese language, China is referred to as 中国 (zhōng guó), or 中國 in traditional script, meaning the middle kingdom. This wasn't...
565 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Nov 7, 2021
- 2 min
Asian Influence in Portuguese Brazil
When I visited Minas Gerais in Brazil more than ten years ago, I made it a point to go to the city of Ouro Preto to check out some of the...
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Spencer Low
- Oct 26, 2021
- 2 min
Malay words of Portuguese origin
Malay was the lingua franca of Southeast Asia, and after the Portuguese took control of the trading port of Malacca in 1511, many words...
1,707 views1 comment
Spencer Low
- Oct 18, 2021
- 2 min
The joint Portuguese-Spanish interventions in Cambodia
The Portuguese made their appearance in Southeast Asia when they conquered Malacca on 24 August 1511. Their Iberian neighbours the...
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Spencer Low
- Oct 10, 2021
- 2 min
Bartolomeu Vaz Landeiro: The King of the Portuguese from Macau
A merchant, a pirate, a smuggler, an adventurer, a captain, and even an official representative of the Portuguese authorities: Bartolomeu...
524 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Aug 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Codex Casanatense: first example of intellectual fusion between Asia and Europe?
The Codex Casanatense, or Códice Casanatense in Portuguese, is a set of 16th century Portuguese illustrations. Likely the work of an...
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Spencer Low
- Aug 15, 2021
- 2 min
When the Portuguese first arrived in India...
Vasco da Gama led the first Portuguese expedition to India, setting sail from Lisbon on July 8, 1497 and arriving in Calicut only on May...
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Spencer Low
- Aug 7, 2021
- 1 min
Not all Portuguese were excited about the Discoveries
Why pass so many storms, and life and times so sore, forever at death's door? I'd give up pepper without qualms. Par passar tanta...
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Spencer Low
- Jan 1, 2021
- 2 min
Portuguese influence on Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine should perhaps be more accurately referred to in the plural: there are so many regional differences, from seafood-heavy...
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Spencer Low
- Dec 26, 2020
- 1 min
Portuguese influence on Southeast Asian cuisines
The Portuguese introduced ingredients to the Asia palate that some would consider to be fundamental today. What would Thai food be like...
204 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Dec 11, 2020
- 2 min
Japanese words of Portuguese origin
Although the Japanese were more deeply familiar with the Dutch language (Western knowledge was called 蘭学 rangaku or "Dutch studies"), the...
146 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Nov 28, 2020
- 1 min
Thai words of Portuguese origin
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to make contact with the Kingdom of Siam more than 500 years ago in 1511. In 1518 was signed the...
289 views0 comments
Spencer Low
- Nov 7, 2020
- 1 min
So what? Why this history still matters today
Interesting as it may be, the influence that the Portuguese exerted in Asia so many centuries ago is often relegated to the introductory...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 7, 2020
- 1 min
Decline & displacement
Portugal was united with Spain in 1580 by virtue of sharing the same king in the person of Philip (Filipe I in Portuguese). The Spanish...
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