ANCIENT INDONESIA: And Its Influence on Modern Times

by Donald E. Weatherbee ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1974

Despite its extreme compression, this is really a rather scholarly first step on the unfamiliar turf of Indonesian history and civilization; one which -- in addition to enumerating the major peoples and kingdoms who have inhabited the region from Java man to modern times -- attempts to separate indigenous Indonesian, culture from its Dutch, Moslem and -- especially -- Indian overlays. Weatherbee views ancient Javanese kingdoms through such media as the traditional wayang shadow play, the kidung and kekawin poetry forms, religion, funerary practices and other rituals. The method is valid and often illuminating; however the formal, academic phraseology, combined with a profusion of unfamiliar proper names and concepts will make this extremely rough going for individuals in the suggested fifth to tenth grade age group. Because there are few books that fall between Smith's Land and People. . . (1968) and intensive college level studies, this will still find an audience among older or special readers.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 96

Publisher: Franklin Watts

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1974

Categories: NONFICTION