The United States and Burma

This book offers a complete, one-volume history of Burmese development from the Pagan Empire to the present. Working with a vast number of original sources and drawing upon field research, John Cady provides the basic history needed to understand the essential character of the Burmese people and the problems that confront them. The author first sets the stage by discussing Burma’s geography, resources, people, social and cultural traditions, religion, and its national identity. He then provides a detailed chronological history that highlights traditional Burma, early modern relations with Siam and British India, the character and significance of British colonial rule, the emerging nationalist protest, and independence and its problems. Throughout, he emphasizes the experiences of the Burmese people, and the events in history that contributed to their national traditions and identity concepts. Edwin O. Reischauer, in his foreword to the book, suggests that Burma “represents almost a classic example of many of the problems of the contemporary world.” The full story of how these problems developed through nine centuries of history makes for rewarding reading.