On Book Review: Sumatera Tempo Doeloe
Reviewer : Miliani Wulandari (History Education 2020)
Book : Sumatera Tempo Doeloe
Author : Anthoney Reid
From the 9th century to the 20th century, was the most fascinating period in the history of Sumatra's development. Anthony Reid (a leading expert on Sumatran history) made a book that contains very important documentation to reconstruct the history of Sumatra.
In his book, there are notes and stories of explorers who have come to Sumatra at various times. It does not tell the state of Sumatra as a whole, but there is a general description of social, economic, political, social, and cultural changes in Sumatra.
By reading this book, we will get to know things we might never get from other official history books, such as when Marco Polo saw and suspected that the Unicorn was in Sumatra (what Marco saw in Sumatra could be a rhino instead). There is also a story Fernao Mendes Pinto (Portuguese historian) tells of the Batak Holy War against Aceh, 1539. Furthermore, the story of Frederick De Houtman, Cornelis De Houtman's brother, who had been a prisoner of the Kingdom of Aceh for almost two years. In his story, he tells the process of his release and Aceh's efforts to lead De Houtman to the Aceh side through Islamization. This book is nostalgic in understanding the history of Sumatra.
This book is highly recommended for friends who have an interest in adventure stories from various explorers, and through this book, we can study and understand history critically.
In his book, there are notes and stories of explorers who have come to Sumatra at various times. It does not tell the state of Sumatra as a whole, but there is a general description of social, economic, political, social, and cultural changes in Sumatra.
By reading this book, we will get to know things we might never get from other official history books, such as when Marco Polo saw and suspected that the Unicorn was in Sumatra (what Marco saw in Sumatra could be a rhino instead). There is also a story Fernao Mendes Pinto (Portuguese historian) tells of the Batak Holy War against Aceh, 1539. Furthermore, the story of Frederick De Houtman, Cornelis De Houtman's brother, who had been a prisoner of the Kingdom of Aceh for almost two years. In his story, he tells the process of his release and Aceh's efforts to lead De Houtman to the Aceh side through Islamization. This book is nostalgic in understanding the history of Sumatra.
This book is highly recommended for friends who have an interest in adventure stories from various explorers, and through this book, we can study and understand history critically.
Comments
Post a Comment