Courses

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most diverse and multifaceted regions. Bounded by India to the west, China to the east, and Australasia to the south, and some of the world’s largest oceans and most contested waterways, it has long been a region in flux. This course aims to introduce students to the Southeast Asian world and its past, from the early modern period through to the end of the twentieth century. Specifically, this course will focus on both mainland and maritime Southeast Asia, examining countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar, amongst others, and their historical antecedents. Similarly, it will focus on the region’s transnational connections, stepping beyond orthodox national boundaries. The course charts the rise and fall of local polities and Western empires, the transnational and transregional movement of peoples, commodities and ideas, and the evolving impact of Southeast Asia’s geographies, economies and environments. Students will be introduced to areas of Southeast Asia that are seldom studied, and will be challenged to investigate issues of historical significance, contemporary relevance and continuing social and cultural interest. This course will encourage students to question how Southeast Asia shaped—and was shaped by—the world around it, and how it has in turn impacted key issues in our contemporary society. Students will be introduced to basic themes in historiography, and will be encouraged to evaluate source materials and historical literature for bias and significance. Finally, this course will demonstrate why Southeast Asia is such an important region worthy of historical investigation.