SOUTHEAST ASIA

HISTORICAL INFLUENCES

1. Many groups have come here to trade

a. India
b. Southwest Asia
c. China
d. European
 Indian Influences

1. Traders sailed from India bringing:

a. Hinduism
b. Buddhism
2. Temples are the center of village life
 Southwest Asian Influences

1. Muslim traders from Arabia

brought Islam

2. Islam spread quickly

3. Major religion of Indonesia &

Malaysia
 Chinese Influences

1. China had little effect on Southeast Asia

2. China felt that the people were barbarous
a. Barbarous: People without manners or
uncivilized
3. One exception:
a. Vietnam was invaded by China and
held for nearly 1000 years
 Europeans Bring Change

1. Europeans wanted:
a. Silks
b. Spices
c. Precious metals (gold & silver)
2. First the Portuguese followed by:
a. French
b. Spanish
c. Dutch
d. British
e. U. S.
 Europeans Bring Change

3. Three changes came rapidly

a. Europeans wanted to buy coffee & tea that
grew well here
b. Rapidly growing population in Europe led to
a greater demand for coffee & tea
c. The manufactures in Europe sought the raw-
materials and especially a place to sell
their stuff
d. By the 1880s, Europe had colonized almost
all of Southeast Asia
 Europeans Bring Change

4. Europeans changed the physical & human

geography
a. Cleared large areas of JUNGLE
b. Encouraged landowners to grow rice for export
 Paddies: Wet land on where rice is grown
c. Small farmers could not compete and sold their
small farms
 Europeans Bring Change

5. European colonizers sold factory-

made goods at lower prices than
local merchants
6. Local merchants were forced out-of-
business
7. Economy became dependent on
Europe for factory-made goods
 Europeans Bring Change

8. Europeans also built roads

and railroads
9. Built large ports
a. Many people came from
neighboring countries
seeking work
b. Indigenous people (native
born people) also flocked
to these port-cities
 Myanmar (Burma)
1. About the size of Texas
2. Over 100 different languages
3. Colonized by Great Britain in
the 1800s
4. Independence came in 1948,
but many groups wanted their
own country and became
insurgents
a. Insurgents: People who
rebel against the
government
 Myanmar (Burma)

5. Due to the fighting, the economy

is weak
6. Another problem is the harsh
military-government
a. Military-Government:
Government run by the
military
Thailand
 Thailand Prospers

1. Though several ethnic groups live here

2. 97% of the population speak Thai

3. People have a strong national identity

4. Thailand was never colonized

a. Flexible in their dealings with Europeans
b. Kept their independence
 Thailand Prospers

5. Progress brings change:

a. One of the strongest economies in

Southeast Asia

b. Once dominated by agriculture

 Thailand Prospers

6. In the 1960s, Thailand began to diversify

7. Industry is now twice the income of

agriculture
8. Tourism brings $5 billion yearly

9. Transportation-Hub for Southeast Asia

a. Transportation-Hub: A center-point of
transportation
VIETNAM
 VIETNAM

1. After years of French occupation

a. The Vietnamese wanted independence
b. Ho Chi Minh (communist) led them to victory
over the French in 1958

2. Vietnam was split into:

a. Communist North
b. Democratic South
 VIETNAM

3. The communist North and Communists in the

Democratic South started another war wanting to
unite the country

4. With the help of the U.S., South Vietnam held-out

until:
a. U.S. Pulled out in 1973 because of political
pressure from Home
b. South Vietnam fell to the Communists just two
years later
 VIETNAM

5. During the 1990s, Vietnam has turned

away from strict government control

6. Began allowing a limited free-market,

called doi moi (dwa mwah)

7. Foreign investment came in and their

economy is growing
CAMBODIA
 CAMBODIA

1. Also once a French Colony

2. Also turned to Communism

3. Communist government began killing anyone with

an education (2 million)

4. Vietnam invaded and stopped the killing

 Indonesia

1. More than 200 different languages

2. 200 Million people

3. Government often controls by violent

means

4. Economic success is based on Oil

reserves

5. Uses Oil $$$ to build

roads/airports/railroads
PHILIPPINES
 PHILIPPINES

1. Ruled by Spain for 333 years…then U. S.

2. Independence came in 1946 (after WW-II)

3. 90% Roman Catholic…How?

4. U. S. brought a new education system (English)

5. U. S. brought a new political system:

Democracy
Singapore
 Singapore

1. Smallest country in Southeast Asia

2. But big economically & politically

3. Center of important trade routes

4. Once a colony of Great Britain

5. Highly educated workforce supplies workers

for high-tech
 MALAYSIA & BRUNEI

1. Economies are not based on agriculture

2. Wealth comes from oil

3. Used oil$$$ to support:

a. Free schooling
b. Medical care
c. Manufacturing & trade
The end…..