Barbara Watson Andaya is an Australian historian whose work centers on Indonesia and Maritime Southeast Asia. She has extensively researched the region's women's history and, more recently, the localization of Christianity within it. Her scholarship offers a profound understanding of cultural and religious shifts across Southeast Asia. Andaya's research provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between global influences and local traditions.
Written by two expert authors, this textbook is the first to examine early modern Southeast Asian history in depth. Chapters explore political, social, economic, cultural and religious developments, and themes including circulation, exchange, material culture, environment and global connections. Student learning is supported by maps, illustrations and timelines.
Focusing on the complexities of femininity in Southeast Asian cultures, this study examines the relatively egalitarian male-female relations in the region. Barbara Watson Andaya delves into the roles and perceptions of women throughout Southeast Asian history, particularly during the early modern era (1500-1800). She analyzes the influences of new religions, economic changes, and state control, supported by a diverse array of sources and examples from various societies, including Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Philippine, and Malay cultures.