Abstract
New geological research strengthens a growing sense of Indonesian history as one unusually exposed to the vagaries of nature. In periods of relative quiescence on the ring of fire, such as the twentieth century, a benign climate and fertile soils can produce rapid population growth and development. But rather than forming a constant, this pattern appears to have been interrupted by periodic disasters. Cooperation between scholars in different disciplines, and the pooling of data from around the Indian Ocean, offers a way forward in understanding the long-term pattern of the region and makes a huge difference to our understanding of the Southeast Asian past, and therefore likely future.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Natural Hazards and Peoples in the Indian Ocean World: Bordering on Danger |
Editors | Greg Bankoff and Joseph Christensen |
Place of Publication | New York |
Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan |
Pages | 31-53 |
Edition | 1st edition |
ISBN (Print) | 978-1-349-94856-7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |