1861—1896
Remarkable lives. A connected world.
The people.
The stories.
The bigger picture.
Discover the lives behind history—from leaders and business builders to sporting pioneers and cultural icons.
Malaysia · CultureMichelle Yeoh
Singapore · PoliticsLee Kuan Yew
Philippines · AthletesHidilyn Diaz
Different lives. Shared history.
Let curiosity be your compass
Who will you discover today?
The reading room
Lives worth knowing
1964—
Tony Fernandes
AirAsia co-founder and group adviserThe former music executive who co-acquired a struggling airline in 2001 and helped turn AirAsia into a defining low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia.Read biography
1971—
Susi Susanti
Olympic and world champion badminton playerThe women’s singles champion whose Barcelona victory delivered Indonesia’s first Olympic gold and defined a golden badminton era.Read biography1962—
Michelle Yeoh
Actor, producer and UNDP Goodwill AmbassadorThe Ipoh-born actor who moved from Hong Kong action cinema to an Academy Award and a global platform for gender equality and sustainable development.Read biographyBehind every life, an era
History, with people at its heart.
1892–1899
The Philippine Revolution
The Katipunan, rival leaders and the road to the First Republic.
Read the story
22–25 February 1986
The People Power Revolution
Four days on EDSA that changed the course of a nation.
Read the story
Malaysia
Malayan Independence
Negotiation, self-government and a new beginning at Merdeka.
Read the story
Indonesia
Indonesia: A History in Turning Points
From the Java War to independence, the New Order and Reformasi.
Read the story
Southeast Asia
The Making of ASEAN
Founders, new members and the institutions connecting a region.
Read the storyA world of connections
Every country.
Countless stories.
Our journey begins in Southeast Asia and now reaches the United States. Explore the people and turning points that connect places.
Explore the country archives
Australia96 biographiesBrunei40 biographiesCambodia51 biographiesCanada109 biographiesIndia129 biographiesIndonesia119 biographiesIreland83 biographiesJapan78 biographiesKenya77 biographiesLaos40 biographiesMalaysia224 biographiesMyanmar77 biographiesNew Zealand70 biographiesNigeria63 biographiesPhilippines223 biographiesSingapore124 biographiesSouth Africa96 biographiesSouth Korea73 biographiesThailand118 biographiesTimor-Leste40 biographiesUnited Kingdom128 biographiesUnited States164 biographiesVietnam83 biographies
One region, many perspectives Recently published
New to the compass
1932–2012
John Michuki
Cabinet ministerMichuki combined ministerial authority with an administrative career.Read biography
1951–
Susumu Kitagawa
Coordination chemistSusumu Kitagawa studies porous coordination materials.Read biography
1959–
Koichi Tanaka
Mass-spectrometry engineerKoichi Tanaka developed methods for analysing large molecules.Read biography
Birth date unverified
Oh Se-jung
Physicist and academic administratorOh Se-jung moved between experimental physics, research administration and parliament.Read biography
Birth date unverified