This handbook represents a major landmark of interdisciplinary encounter histories, providing a wide-ranging collection of essays on human and non-human actors on the oceans, seas, beaches, bays and estuaries where cultures and species often meet. Focusing primarily on Pacific, Indian and Australasian histories, contributions cover First Nations accounts of seafaring and Indigenous intermediaries; interactions across oceans; shipwrecks and material culture; and maritime interaction sphere like the Swahili Coast, the Maritime Silk Road, and the Manila Galleon Network. In doing so, it provides a cutting-edge assessment of the vibrant field of oceanic and maritime history, and charts a blueprint for future research in the field.

Lynette Russell is a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor at Monash University and Deputy Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Australia.

David Haworth is Senior Research Officer at the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Australia.

Leonie Stevens is a Research Fellow at the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Australia.

Dr Leigh Penman is a freelance educator and historian, and a former member of Global Encounters Monash team, Australia

Dr Chris Urwin is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Fellow at Monash University, Australia