Author Description

Southeast Asia has often been seen as economically static and self-sufficient until the arrival of late 19th century capitalism, for no better reason than lack of evidence to the contrary. This volume seeks to lay a basis for more solid analysis of the precolonial record through accumulating one type of data (exports) for which the record is long and continuous. By compiling data series for each of the Southeast Asian products which dominated long-term exports (cloves, pepper, coffee and sugar), it reveals a dynamic pattern of rises and falls in the economic record of a region.<br> <i>Co-published with ISEAS.</i>