Connected Heritages: The Inner Life of Penang in the Indian Ocean World opens up the interdisciplinary possibilities of transnational and oceanic historical inquiry paired with granular ethnographic research. Departing from conventional land- and nation-centric approaches, the book situates Penang, Malaysia – and particularly its historic core, George Town – within the fluid realm of lateral networks, revealing the profound influence of the sea on the port city’s political, economic, social and cultural landscape.