This study is the first in-depth examination of the environment and development of the Straits. Taking an integrative approach, the book argues that the region has an underlying unity which political divisions disguise.

1. Introduction: A Seaborne World Part one: The Shaping of the Environment 2. Physical structures 3. Landscapes, vegetation and soils Part two: Resources and Techniques 4. Resource use in the coastal and marine zone 5. Technology, resources and development Part three: Collective histories 6. Early maritime empires c700-1700 7. Colonial intensification and the rise of Singapore Part four: Collective opportunities 8. Economic development and political change 9. The Straits: the international dimension 10. Environmental issues and their management 11. Conclusion