The history of Jakarta, capital city of Indonesia, is a fascinating tapestry of religions, cultures, habits, and lifestyles woven by many peoples from within its own nation, within the region, and beyond the seas. Old Jakarta explains the reasons that attracted these people and assesses the influences that they wielded on the city. It traces Jakarta's growth from a sleepy coastal trading center, through its gradual expansion as a spice center, to its enviable position as "The Queen City of the East," and describes its path to independence. In the last chapter, Maya Jayapal compares the city as it was in the past, through its remaining historical sites, with the burgeoning city it is now.