Peripheral Southeast Asia
The areas peripheral to Southeast Asia include territories such as (but not limited to) India, Sri Lanka, Southern and Southwest China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
To cite this page: Tan, Noel Hidalgo (2021, updated 22 July 2023) Peripheral Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian Archaeology. Available at: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/peripheral-southeast-asia/
Overview
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“Southeast Asia” is a modern construct, and we cannot consider the archaeology of the region without looking at the borders of this artificially-created demarcation. Situated on the fringes of Southeast Asia, the Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang provinces of China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan each bear their unique narratives. Though geographically marginal, these areas have played significant roles in shaping the cultural, socio-political, and economic dynamics of the region, harboring compelling stories and insights.
A central aspect of our exploration is the Chinese interactions with Southeast Asia, visible in the rich legacy of trade ceramics. These ancient artifacts bear silent witness to the vibrant trade, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic relations that unfolded across the South China Sea over centuries.
We also delve into the transformative phase of the ‘Indianization’ of Southeast Asia during the first millennium CE. This cultural influx, characterized by the adoption of Indic religions and customs, has deeply influenced Southeast Asia’s spiritual and material culture, contributing to its layered identity.
Another captivating interaction to explore is the historic exchange between the indigenous peoples of Australia and traders from what is now modern-day Indonesia. This dialogue, preserved in shared cultural artifacts and ethnographic records, provides a glimpse into the region’s prehistoric trade routes and socio-cultural dynamics.
Above all, this exploration of ‘peripheral’ Southeast Asia reinforces the region’s role as a crucial crossroads and facilitator for the flow of materials and ideas across the world. Its strategic geographical position and inherent diversity have made it a vibrant melting pot of influences, a platform for cultural exchange, and a catalyst for global connectivity.
Recommended Books
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These books are relevant to the archaeology and history of the peripheral areas of Southeast Asia such as South Asia, East Asia and Oceania. The list below is my personal recommendation based on what I have in my library, have read, or want to read myself. Newer books are higher up on the list. Some of these links are affiliate links and I may receive a commission if you click on them and make a purchase. For other sources of reliable academic information, you should also check out the books page for latest releases and the occassional free book, as well as the journals page for the latest scientific research.
Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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News Archive
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The news reports indexed below usually link to external sites that were active at the time of posting; sometimes websites may be temporarily down or may have reorganised their underlying architecture or have even closed down – in these cases the links may not be available. Most of the news articles archived are in English; this is largely because I do not have a working competency in other languages, although when I am made aware of stories other languages I try to index them.
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