Early Mainland Southeast Asian Landscapes in the First Millennium A.D.

What the many ethnicities of mainland Southeast Asia had in common before the emergence of States and Empires? What did they share, or not, between themselves? How were they connected to the outer world? In this clear and informed synthesis, the author puts forward some major patterns in terms of settlements, agricultural and pre-industrial practices, trade and material culture.

Prospective research themes are offered in closing: ​‘Comparative studies of material culture could inform on the configuration of several interactional networks: within South China Sea communities, between mainland and island Southeast Asian regions, and between mainland Southeast Asia and its neighbors (southern India, southern China). Because art historical traditions have dominated such analyses, interpretations emphasize South Asian influence and the religious/​ideological realm; more work is needed on the vernacular world. Documenting material culture homogeneity versus heterogeneity within and across regions and through time also informs on the nature, tempo, and directionality of organizational change versus cultural stasis.’