Living With Civilisations: Reflections on Southeast Asia’s Local and National Cultures by Professor Wang Gungwu
The Southeast Asian region is home to a set of diverse local cultures and distinct local identities. In this lecture series, Professor Wang Gungwu will look at how the cultures of our region interacted with civilisations, and how these civilisations shaped local identities and cultures in the process. Being at the centre of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s national identity has also been moulded by great ancient civilisations. From the rise of global maritime trade, to Singapore’s role as a port under the British empire, the country has come into contact with many civilisations that empowered its development. Understanding the history of Singapore from this perspective will give us insight to how the country’s modern identity is being shaped, and enable us to better understand our region’s place in the modern world order.

Enlightened Modern
The 19th century saw the mass expansion of Western European influence around the world. Through occupying territory and building extensive empires, these European powers, the Enlightened Modern, sought to bring progress to the uncivilised. In the third lecture of the series, Professor Wang outlines the effect of European domination on Asia and Southeast Asia, particularly on the Indic, Sinic and Islamic civilisations in our region. Why were European nations so influential in Southeast Asia? How did the ancient civilisations around us respond to the idea of modernisation? What eventually gave rise to nationalism in our region?

1:30 min
Lecture by
Professor Wang Gungwu
12th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore

1:02:35 min
Question-and-Answer Session Moderated by
Professor Elaine Ho
Department of Geography
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
&
Asia Research Institute
National University of Singapore

Date: 8 Feb 2023
Time: 04.00 pm - 05.30 pm

To find out more about the event

https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/events/details/ips-nathan-lectures-by-professor-wang-gungwu-lecture-iii-enlightened-modern

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