Southeast
Asia is our neighbour, but to many it is almost unknown beyond holiday
destinations in Bali or Bangkok.It is an essential part of the
curriculum, but with almost no material to support it. Even those who
know its modern geography don't know its history. At most, Southeast
Asia is seen as individual countries.
And yet it's not.
The history of Southeast Asia and Australia is intertwined. We are
linked by the winds and great tides that bring our weather; by the seas
that brought conquerors, or those who sailed here and stayed. A volcano
in Indonesia may bring rain down in Perth or cause a drought in
Tasmania.
This is the story of the region, from the first footstep, more than 60,000 years ago, to the ASEAN conference of 2015.
Divided
into sections, the book will tell the story of one land, one era of
history, but also how that past and place is linked to us all. It is a
book that will hopefully entice both children and adults to seek more in
the extensive notes and materials that will support the book, but also
be read for its own beauty and insight into the region where we live,
but do not know. The authors hope that their ties within the region will
mean the book is sold to countries in the region. As the title says, it
is about us all.