Connected by large bodies of water, be they rivers or seas, the societies and polities of Asia and the Pacific have been profoundly shaped by this liquid world. Myths, rituals, diet and everyday life reflect changing and sometimes unpredictable winds and currents. The “people of the sea,” however, have learned as well to tame their maritime environment. Boat building and shipping knowledge harnessed by years of experience brought them into contact with one another and even to places far and away. The coasts and river deltas became meeting and exchange points, some of which later on were transformed into port-cities. Many of these ports became open multi-ethnic economic zones and exchange centers for goods, beliefs and ideas, assuming regional and global interconnectedness similar to what we are experiencing today. The coming of Western colonizers altered the rhythm of mobility and flows but connections and exchanges persisted up to the present.

The course introduces students to maritime history of Asia and the Pacific through an exploration of the sea as a framework in examining the intertwined histories and connections in the region that continue to influence contemporary dynamics. It examines how the maritime environment has shaped the lives and perspectives of littoral societies in the region. The coverage of the course is broad, in terms of geography and time period, but is necessary to understand long term interactions of societies with each other within the region and beyond. To help student cope with this demand, case studies will be chosen to highlight certain themes, theoretical approach or time period. The case studies will also be examined through an interdisciplinary lens to allow students to explore and contribute other perspectives, approaches and methodologies from other disciplines.