The coverage of Buddhism is equally misleading. In truth, what distinguishes the Theravada, or southern school of Buddhism from the larger Mahayana school is the fact that, theoretically, the former relies exclusively on the teachings of the historical Buddha. As such, it is a doctrine of individual salvation. It relies on far less ritual than many Mahayana sects, such as the Tantric Buddhism practiced by Tibetans. Even the most worldly male Theravada Buddhist is required to spend at least a short time living as a monk.
Problematic coverage goes on and on.
For example, in the section on European empire building in early modern times, the text seems to conflate European expansion in the 16th century with that of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Such a passage is, to say the least, ripe for deconstruction. Such inaccuracies are not limited to the text. For example, on page 523 there is a map of the Asia-Pacific region, ca. The designers of the map took great pains to distinguish areas in India which were directly administered by the British from those which remained, at least nominally, under the rule of Indian princes.