From Bali to Singapore, from Myanmar to Vietnam - the fascinating history of the sea-washed world between Australia and China. From the legendary kingdoms like Siam or the Khmer Empire through the colonial era marked by the bloody war in Vietnam to the rise of modern metropolises like Singapore: Dutch historian Henk Schulte Nordholt narrates the diverse history of Southeast Asia, a captivating world of countless islands shaped by seafaring and trade, threatened by volcanoes and tsunamis. A look back explains why the king in Thailand is revered like a saint, why women in the region have historically enjoyed a degree of autonomy, and why a moderate form of Islam is practiced in parts of Indonesia. Today, religious conflicts are on the rise, the contrast between rich and poor is more extreme than ever, and the rising sea levels pose an existential threat. The opportunity for the future.