Southeast Asia brings to
mind exotic people and exotic places that seem very far away. From the
beautiful beaches of Bali, Indonesia, to the bustling modern city of Singapore,
this region is home to many ancient cultures that are developing modern
political structures and economies. This transition is taking many of the
people of Southeast Asia on a whirlwind ride. They are moving from an era of
European colonial economies built on the lucrative spice trade to
twenty-first-century technical jobs created in the age of computers,
biotechnology, and the Internet.
Contents
Introduction
Getting Acquainted With Southeast Asia
Nature
Historical Geography
From Colonies to Countries
People and Cultures
Political Geography
Economic Geography
Southeast Asia Looks Ahead
History at a Glance