The Spice Route: The Early Economy of South-East Asia

Abstract

Economics and politics have always been closely linked together in South-East Asia, even more so than in the West. The political and cultural development of the region, including the Chinese migration and settlement described in the first half of this book, have had a strong impact on the economies and business cultures of the region, and continue to do so. At the same time, business and commerce, especially trade with China and with the West, have in turn helped shape the politics and culture of the region. To understand the history of South-East Asia, it is also necessary to understand its economy — and vice versa.