The Closer's seventh season began in August 2011.
The written history of Singapore dates back to the third century .. Singapore. Singapore. Evidence suggest a significant trading settlement existed in Singapore during the 14th century .. Singapore. Singapore. In the late 14th century , Singapura was under the rule of Parameswara until he was expelled by the Majapahit or the Siamese .. Singapura. Kingdom of Singapura. Parameswara. Parameswara ( sultan ). Majapahit. Majapahit. It then came under the Malacca Sultanate and then the Johor Sultanate .. Malacca Sultanate. Malacca Sultanate. Johor Sultanate. Johor Sultanate. Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 , when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty whereby Johor allowed the British to found a trading port on the island .. Singapore. Singapore. founded. Founding of modern Singapore. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Stamford Raffles. During World War II , Singapore was conquered and occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1942 to 1945 .. Singapore. Singapore. World War II. World War II. Japanese Empire. Empire of Japan. When the war ended , Singapore reverted to British control , with increasing levels of self-government being granted , culminating in Singapore 's merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963 .. Singapore. Singapore. self-government. self-governance. Federation of Malaya. Federation of Malaya. Malaysia. Malaysia. But social unrest and disputes between Singapore 's ruling People 's Action Party and Malaysia 's Alliance Party resulted in Singapore 's expulsion from Malaysia .. Singapore. Singapore. Malaysia. Malaysia. Alliance Party. Alliance Party ( Malaysia ). Singapore became an independent republic on August 9 , 1965 .. Singapore. Singapore. Facing severe unemployment and a housing crisis , Singapore embarked on a modernization programme beginning in the late 1960s through the 1970s that focused on establishing a manufacturing industry , developing large public housing estates and investing heavily on public education .. Singapore. Singapore. By the 1990 , the country had become one of the world 's most prosperous nations , with a highly developed free market economy , strong international trading links , and the highest per capita gross domestic product in Asia outside Japan .. developed. economic development. free market economy. free market economy. international trading. international trade. Japan. Japan