History of Modern Indonesia Since C.1200, a [Hardcover]

M.C. Ricklefs (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0333800990 | ISBN-13: 978-0333800997 | Publication Date: August 31, 2001 | Edition: 3rd

Recognized as the most authoritative general account of Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, from the coming of Islam c.1200 to today, this book covers the rich history of the Indonesian archipelago with a focus on indigenous affairs. Merle Ricklefs poses the question of how diverse but related linguistic and ethnic communities came to form the unitary Republic of Indonesia, and sheds important light on the crises and challenges facing this vast nation. For this third edition, Ricklefs has added chapters on the Soeharto period after 1975, on Indonesia since Soeharto, and on western Indonesia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Other revisions are found throughout the book, and the bibliography has been thoroughly updated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Covering an enormous span of eight centuries, this history is systematic, balanced, sympathetic to its subjects, authoritative for every period under review, and deeply intelligent. It is, in my view, the finest historical survey of Indonesia ever written and one of the most accessible and comprehensive of any Asian realm.' - Victor Lieberman, University of Michigan, USA 'Successfully weaves together political, intellectual, religious and economic developments into an engaging and detailed narrative.' - Michael Charney, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK 'Like the previous edition, this fourth edition is a fine, balanced and clearly written work. It is unique in the field as a detailed, reliable and readable text.' - Robert Cribb, Australian National University --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

M.C. RICKLEFS is a pre-eminent scholar of Indonesian history, and an internationally acknowledged expert on seventeenth and eighteenth century Java and Islamisation in the Indonesian archipelago. Recent works include War, Culture and Economy in Java, 1677-1726 (Allen & Unwin, 1993) and The Seen and Unseen Worlds of Java, 1726-1749 (Allen & Unwin, 1998).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 520 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave; 3rd edition (August 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333800990
• ISBN-13: 978-0333800997
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,019,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well summarized history of Indonesia, March 30, 2003

By 

Arsa Oemar (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1200: Third Edition (Paperback)

I myself am a student from Indonesia, currently studying in Carnegie Mellon University. In light of recent international events, I became attracted to learn the history of my own country from the prespective of Western authors. That is why I read this book at the first place.

I find this book very informative, it gives the reader a good sense of what has been going on in Indonesia from the time of the encounter with the Dutch (~1500), the Dutch colonial period (1600 - 1945), the nation's independence (1945), and the recent reformation of the nation (2000). However, I think some parts of the book are too brief and rather inaccessible for those who do not have prior knowledge of Indonesian history. But that shouldn't be a problem in understanding the overall picture.

I would say that this book is more for the serious readers who want to know more about Indonesia's past and understand its present. A recommended reading especially for students and scholars from Indonesia!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best general history of Indonesia in English, September 20, 2005

By 

G. Brown "Perpetual Student" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1200: Third Edition (Paperback)

Readable and fairly comprehensive, this is a great resource for students and those who want to know the history of one of the world's largest, most fascinating, and least understood (by Westerners) countries.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise a history of Muslim Indonesia, December 20, 2007

By 

Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1200: Third Edition (Paperback)

Why does this 'history' begin in 1200? Becuase that is when Islam came to Indonesia and therefore, according to the author, there was no history of the country before that time. The Indonesian Hindu and Buddhist temples that pre-date the coming of Islam might be a suprise to anyone reading this book. The fact that before the 1965 anti-Chinese genocide there used to be a large number of Chinese in Indonesia might come as a suprise. it might come as a surprise that there are Christians in Indonesia or that in the 19th century women still used to walk around without having to cover their hair in public.

This is a one sided biased book that views Indonesia only through the glasses of Islamic Indonesia and ignores minorities and all the diverse people that inhabit the archipelego.

Seth J. Frantzman