What has Asia ever done for us?

This is my introductory essay series for IlluminAsia. Also available as a podcast.

Part I: the Ancient World

Part II: the Medieval World

Part III: the Early Modern World

Part IV: Towards the Modern World

Part V: the Twentieth Century and Beyond

I’ve offered a few reading suggestions at the end of each Part. My own book on all this is called The Light of Asia: A History of Western Fascination with the East (Penguin).