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Harnessing Winds for Wealth
The combined GDP of Southeast Asia's core economies today is approximately four trillion dollars, a legacy rooted in the region's history of trade and exploration. Ancient Arab and Indian merchants utilized seasonal monsoon winds to navigate maritime routes, playing a pivotal role in the establishment of trade networks that linked Southeast Asia to China via the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait. These winds not only facilitated movement but also catalyzed the development of early Southeast Asian economies through sustained regional trade, highlighting the historical significance of maritime routes in shaping economic landscapes.