This book contains 9 essays by various authors advocating that Southeast Asia in the Early Modern Era was not lapsing into indolence, but was basically as dynamic as ever. Geography is often destiny in the studies of Anthony Reid, and you find that here as well. The basic conclusion of the book would be that Islam was important in some areas of Southeast Asia (mainly those where Islam later became the majority religion), and that the arrival of the Europeans was overall of limited importance. Their main contribution at first was an increase in markets (plus they diverted away from China) and the introduction of new weapons. This would later change when the Dutch presence grew more important.

One of my reasons for reading this book is an interest in why so much of the southern half of Southeast Asia converted to Islam. This is a subject in some of the essays, e.g. on the influence of a more successful religion on animists the Philippines and eastern Indonesia, and in a separate essay on Ternate. Islamisation was a top-down process, where Islam had certain unique selling points like a code of trade law, and the fact that Islamic traders from the Middle East and India preferred doing business in Muslim areas. There is also one essay on the impact of Christianity and Islam in general.

Additional interesting issues where the interference of outside forces in Jambi (Sumatra), the organisation of trade Portuguese Malacca, and trade and politics in Ayuthaya (Thailand) before the conflict with the Burmese. There are also some rather remarkable continuities in Southeast Asia, e.g. the leading role of foreigners (Chinese, Arabs, Indians) in trade in principalities with authoritarian rulers.

Recommmended if the area interests you. ( )