Philip Bowring

Empire of the Winds by Philip Bowring explores Nusantaria, often referred to as 'Maritime Southeast Asia', which is the world's largest archipelago. For centuries, it has been a vital cultural and trading hub. The name "Nusantara", originally a Sanskrit and later Malay word, refers to an island realm. Here, it is adapted to become Nusantaria, denoting a slightly wider world...

“Well-researched... a welcome guide.” The Spectator “Reliable and lucid.” History Today With a fractured geography and complex identity, The Philippines is an eclectic and unique mix of culture, environment, people, and politics. Known mostly for natural disasters, migrant labour, and dictatorial presidents, in this book Philip Bowring shows how it is much, much more. Deftly navigating the history of this...

Where did the concept of ‘Asia’ come from? Was this a term coined by the many communities that spanned this great continent, or was it a Western invention, imposed upon those lands and populations that were so ‘other’ to themselves? This book argues that ‘Asia’ is a European creation, and goes back in time to show how and when this...