An important book for anyone interested in boats or the South Asian way of life, this text covers a vast array of traditional boats used in the sub-continent today for fishing and other coastal or riverine tasks.

Maritime archaeology, the study of man's early encounter with the rivers and seas of the world, only came to the fore in the last decades of the twentieth century, long after its parent discipline, terrestrial archaeology, had been established. Yet there were seamen long before there werefarmers, navigators before there were potters, and boatbuilders before there were wainwrights. In this book Professor McGrail attempts to correct some of the imbalance in our knowledge of the past by presenting the evidence for the building and use of early water transport: rafts, boats, and ships.

Volume Three offers 1643 annotated records on publications regarding the art and archaeology of South Asia, Central Asia and Tibet selected from the ABIA Index database at www.abia.net which were published between 2002 and 2007.

This book takes stock of the results of some two decades of intensive archaeological research carried out on both sides of the Bay of Bengal, in combination with renewed approaches to textual sources and to art history. To improve our understanding of the trans-cultural process commonly referred to as Indianisation, it brings together specialists of both India and Southeast Asia, in a fertile inter-disciplinary confrontation. Most of the essays reappraise the millennium-long historiographic no-man's land during which exchanges between the two shores of the Bay of Bengal led, among other processes, to the Indianisation of those parts of the region that straddled the main routes of exchange. Some essays follow up these processes into better known "classical" times or even into modern times, showing that the localisation process of Indian themes has long remained at work, allowing local societies to produce their own social space and express their own ethos.

Prior to European expansion, communities of the Indian subcontinent had a strong maritime orientation. In this new archaeological study, Himanshu Prabha Ray explores seafaring activity, religious travel and political economy in this ancient period. By using archaeological data from the Red Sea to the Indonesian archipelago, she reveals how the early history of peninsular South Asia is interconnected with that of its Asian and Mediterranean partners in the Indian Ocean Region. The book departs from traditional studies, focusing on the communities maritime history rather than agrarian expansion and the emergence of the state. Rather than being a prime mover in social, economic and religious change, the state is viewed as just one participant in a complex interplay of social actors, including merchants, guilds, boat-builders, sailors, pilgrims, religious clergy and craft-producers. A study that will be welcomed by students of Archaeology and Ancient History, particularly those interested in South Asian Studies.

From internal oppression in Burma to interstate conflict in the South China Sea, the people of Southeast Asia face a range of threats. This book identifies and explains the security challenges -- both traditional and nontraditional -- confronting the region. Collins addresses the full spectrum of security issues, discussing the impact of ethnic tensions and competing political ideologies, the evolving role of ASEAN, and Southeast Asia's interactions with key external actors (China, Japan, and the United States). The final section of the book explores how the region's security issues are reflected in two current cases: the South China Sea dispute and the war on terrorism.

About our Book Living the Dream is the true-life adventure story of our seven-year cruise from Newport, Oregon, to Phuket, Thailand in the 35-foot steel-hulled sailboat, Tainui. This book gives a true picture of what it’s really like for a retired couple to live their dream of full time cruising to far away places: the highs of beautiful sailing days, snorkeling off pristine coral, anchoring in tropical lagoons, exotic cultural experiences, and the fellowship of the cruising community--but also fear in storms, the exhaustion of sleepless night watches, discouragement of endless boat maintenance, and a rusting through of Tainui’s hull. Although we wrote Living the Dream for a general audience, serious sailors will find a wealth of helpful cruising information and steel boat owners will profit from our significant learning experiences in our maintenance of Tainui's steel hull. About us We began our lives far apart--Connie in parts of Californis that were far from the sea and with no aspirations to cross oceans and Vern in the busy seaport city of Seattle dreaming of sailing away some day. We eventually met at the University of Washington, married, started or family and careers--Vern as a social worker and Connie as a teacher. It was our four years of living with our family in Malaysia while Vern was on the staff of the Peace Corps there that sparked our desire to one day be full time world travelers. Order a personalized autographed copy of our book directly rom us by e-miling us at [email protected]. We will send you an order form. ($16.50 plus actual shipping cost). Or order your copy from Author House be clicking the "buy now" button.