This study provides insight to the history and culture of the people of Bali, from prehistoric times to the present. Bali is a small tropical island in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago, prone to earthquakes and devastating volcanic activity, renowned for its natural beauty. Bali has been called the island of the Gods. It is the only area of Indonesia that remains predominantly Hindu, retaining elements from a rich cultural tradition when Indian influences penetrated the island over a thousand years ago. At the same time the Balinese have shown remarkable ability to blend the old with the new. After a description of the island?s geography, the book describes the history of the Balinese people, from the earliest traces of human habitation, through the development of its ancient civilization, the influences of Tantric Buddhism and Hinduism, the subjugation of Bali by the Javanese empire, and the subsequent autonomy of the eight Balinese kingdoms for several centuries until...
