The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain FutureGrove Press, 2000 - 295 pages A compelling, lively narrative history of the peoples and cultures of the great river of Southeast Asia, The Mekong spans two thousand years--from the dawn of civilization on the Mekong Delta to the political and environmental challenges the region faces today. Beginning with the rise of ancient seafaring civilizations at Oc Eco and moving on to the glory of the Cambodian empire in the first millennium, through European colonization and the struggle for independence in the twentieth century, Osborne traces the history of the region that comprises the modern nations of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, and China. Vibrant, insightful, and eminently readable, The Mekong is a rousing history of a dynamic region that has fascinated readers the world over. |
Contents
Prologue | 1 |
Monuments Tombs and a Great River | 9 |
A River gives Birth to an Empire | 20 |
Priests Freebooters and Merchants Europeans Discover the Mekong | 39 |
Filling in the Blanks on the Map Henri Mouhot and the Rediscovery of Angkor | 60 |
The Mekong Explored From Hope to Disappointment | 73 |
The Mekong Explored From Disappointment to Tragedy | 98 |
Gunboats and Conquered Hearts Exploration and Imperial Rivalry along the Mekong | 116 |
War Failed Peace and Plans for the Mekong | 175 |
War Victory and Defeat along the Mekong | 192 |
Tragedies of Peace | 204 |
The Mekong at Peace Dams Plans and Controversies I | 221 |
The Mekong at Peace Dams Plans and Controversies II | 236 |
Bridges over Troubled Waters and Lands Present Imperfect Future Uncertain | 246 |
Epilogue | 260 |
Sources Notes and Acknowledgements | 267 |
Navigating the Mekong Challenge Illusion and Defeat | 134 |
Fear and Fascination The Colonial Years along the Mekong | 153 |
Index | 282 |
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Common terms and phrases
Angkor Wat Angkorian Asian Australian Bangkok banks boat bridge Buddhist building built Burma Cambodia capital Carné China Chinese claim Cochinchina colonial communist construction countries course court Dali dams Delaporte Despite Doudart de Lagrée downstream early European expedition's explorers finally fish flow France Francis Garnier French French Indochina Funan Grandière gunboats Henri Mouhot Indochina Jinghong journey Khmer Rouge Khon Khone Falls kilometres king Lagrée's Lake later linked Luang Prabang major Malraux Mekong Delta Mekong Expedition Mekong River metres Minh modern navigation nineteenth century officials once pagodas palace Paris party Pavie Phnom Penh plans Pol Pot political population Portuguese possible Province rapids reached recorded region royal Ruiz ruler Saigon Sambor season settlement Siam Siamese South Southeast Asia southern Laos southern Vietnam temples Thai Thailand Theun Tonle Sap tributaries Veloso vessels Vientiane Vietnamese Wat Phu Yunnan