A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia

by J.M. Barwise

From the early Christian era in Europe, Southeast Asia was known as the “Land of Gold.” It is a region blessed with a rich diversity of cultures, peoples, and scenery. A Traveller’s History of Southeast Asia is a lucid and concise introduction to the histories of the modern states of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and East Timor, providing an essential guide for both tourists and the general reader. It spans the history of the region from “Java Man” some one million years ago, to the development of the high-tech, skyscraper cities of the new millennium, all the way to the present time. Following chapters on the physical environment and the earliest human history of Southeast Asia, the authors carry the reader through the classical kingdoms that produced such architectural marvels as Borobudur in Java and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The book further explores Southeast Asia’s growing trade with the outside world from 1500 culminating in colonization by the European imperial powers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The struggles for independence in the last century—which made the modern nations of the region—are discussed in detail, as are the dramatic and tragic events of the post-independence era such as the Vietnam War and the Cambodia genocide. The remarkable successes and failings of the region’s recent economic development are highlighted in the final chapter. Above all, A Traveller’s History of Southeast Asia shows how the region’s soul has been preserved against tremendous external pressures.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Asia, Travel

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2002

Reviews

[Galatea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise, well-written look at the history of Southeast Asia. Sadly, this book excludes The Philippines and Myanmar, so it isn't by any means complete, but it /is/ a good primer into the history of the region, how it's taken in and adapted to global trends of trade, culture, and history, and how they nations of today have come to be the way they are.

[CathyMW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this before a trip to the area. Nice overview. Pretty dry.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry, but extremely concise and informative--gave me a new perspective on my trip

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of selected countries in southeast Asia designed for travellers to the region. The writing style is a little bit dry but conveys a great deal of information in a concise manner. The book includes a chronology of key events and lists of political leaders as well as summaries of the current political situation of each of the countries discussed in the book. The intended audience of the book, travelers to the region, limits the scope of the history as the author leaves out Burma and the Philippines because they attract fewer tourists, even though they are relevant to the historical events mentioned in the text. There are also no overall conclusions presented about the region as a whole. A useful read with limitations.

[Jill McNish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a political and economic history of Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, East Timor, Brunei from prehistoric times to modern times. This is NOT a cultural history of these countries, so don’t expect any relief from the never ending recital of coups and governmental upheavals in these countries; this is a VERY DRY book. I found it virtually impossible to keep track of all of the tumult but have to give the authors credit for following the myriad developments in each country. I also found it extremely odd that the book does not cover Burma (now Myanmar) or the Philippines which are the largest countries in Southeast Asia. The most helpful parts of the book are contained in the last 50 pages. The first part of the last 50 pages contains a simple chronology of events in each country. The second part contains a succinct visitor’s guide to noteworthy sites.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good survey of the history of a region. It includes Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor, and Indonesia. Philippines and Burma are left out.

It's not written very well but it gets the point across. It's a good brief history and it's definitely worth reading to get some basic information.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very well written or inconsistently edited. But helpful to my experience of traveling in the region, and enjoyable. It just feels great to chip away at my ignorance of the history of other countries also!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cecilia gave me this one before I left NY. Excellent overview, keeps you interested, not-at-all-boring for a history.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of cultural and historical info about the entire southeast asian region beginning with prehistory