Southeast Asia : Past and Present offers a balanced and readable account of the region from ancient to modern times, covering traditional history as well as current events. D. R. SarDesai avoids overemphasizing the importance of the period of European colonial rule as he introduces us to the regions and peoples of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Readers will find the new introductions to each part a helpful aid in understanding the global and political implications of the events discussed. The sixth edition is also updated to include important discussions of the Asian tsunami, avian flu, ASEAN, cyclone Nargis, the monk uprising in Myanmar, the ongoing saga of the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as other recent events in southeast Asia. Conveying an Asian point of view throughout, Southeast Asia combines thematic and chronological approaches with the study of colonialism, nationalism, domestic problems, and international relations.