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The Southeast Asian Connection in the First Eurasian World Economy, 200 BCE–CE 500

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Trade, Circulation, and Flow in the Indian Ocean World

Part of the book series: Palgrave Series in Indian Ocean World Studies ((IOWS))

Abstract

Over world history, Southeast Asia’s contribution to the world economy prior to the 1500s, and especially in the early millennia of the current era (first century CE),1 has been much neglected by historians.2Sandwiched between India and China, Southeast Asia has often been viewed merely as a region of peripheral entrepôts, especially in the early centuries of the current era. However, recent archaeological evidence has shown highly established and productive polities existing in Southeast Asia in the early years of the current era and long before.

Southeast Asian populations during the Neolithic and early metal periods also contributed much to human achievements in agriculture, art, metallurgy, boat construction and ocean navigation.

Glover and Bellwood, Southeast Asia: From Prehistory to History

*Earlier versions of this paper were presented to the Annual Conference of the Social Science History Association, Boston, November 17–20, 2011, and to The Dimensions of the Indian Ocean World Past 9th–19th Centuries Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia, 12–14 November 2012. The comments from Philippe Beaujard, Tom Hall, Alvin So, and Bill Thompson on earlier drafts are much appreciated.

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  1. Sing Chew
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Michael Pearson

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© 2015 Michael Pearson

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Chew, S. (2015). The Southeast Asian Connection in the First Eurasian World Economy, 200 BCE–CE 500. In: Pearson, M. (eds) Trade, Circulation, and Flow in the Indian Ocean World. Palgrave Series in Indian Ocean World Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-56624-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-56624-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

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