Hommikumaa vägevad

The book is based on the summer series "Morning Land's Mighty Ones" that aired on Vikerraadio from 2017 to 2021, which talked about Asian ruling families, crowned and uncrowned emperors and kings. Those who have already died or lost power, and others who are still on the throne. And also about some families of dictators and politicians who themselves climbed the power ladder. Now, anyone who has enjoyed Martti Kalda's radio shows, in addition to listening to them on the Vikerraadio website or the Estonian Public Broadcasting archive, can also read the chapters of this book. This way, complicated oriental names and dates that may have slipped by while listening or been remembered incorrectly will not be lost. The author hopes that the written text will complement and support the text, caressing the eye, while the shows caress the ear.

Of course, you can read this book without listening to the shows. Especially since the book offers an incredible number of eloquent illustrations for a better understanding of an event or a personal story. Simply to broaden one's horizons or to gain knowledge. Despite Martti Kalda's academic background, this work is not too academic. In the interests of a wider readership, overly detailed references have been omitted, and generalizations have been made for the sake of clarity. Only the list of reading recommendations at the end of each chapter, which is also partly a list of literature used, suggests that the texts and programs are based on thorough research. In this way, this book could also be suitable for reading by high school students and university students, for example as additional material for a 20th-century world history or political science course. Perhaps even teachers and lecturers will find something interesting here. Or those who simply want to broaden their horizons. Perhaps even those who have traveled to one of the Asian countries under consideration or are just setting their sights there.

Although this is not a scientific work, the facts in the book have been verified, and conclusions have been drawn from the facts. At the same time, this is not a systematic historical account. The author has taken the liberty of excluding events and facts that, in my opinion, do not contribute to the telling of the main story. Above all, the focus of these chapters is on the individuals in power, whether those who themselves have strongly strived for the feat, or others who have accidentally come to the throne and podium. And by extension, their entire kin, royal dynasty or ruling family, are in power. Thus, unlike conventional history, the focus is turned from facts to people. On their lives and deaths, and on their changes in the whirlwinds of power. As well or badly as the sources allow it to be described.