Welcome to Southeast Asia

1. Welcome to Southeast Asia The TajMahal

2. Southeast Asia includes: Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, & Singapore.

3. Southeast Asia has been influenced by China & India for many years. Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, & Confucianism came from China & India. Also, writing systems, literature, ideas about government & social class.

4. European Colonialism Europeans came to Southeast Asia as traders & missionaries. The Portuguese arrived first in 1509. The Spanish, Dutch, British & French all followed. *They came for wealth-spices, gems, & gold- not power.

5. Trade brings New Religions Trade with other parts of the world also brought Christianity and Islam to Southeast Asia. Muslim traders brought Islam to the region. In the 1500’s, Christian missionaries came to Southeast Asia from Portugal, France, and Spain.

6. Contributions of the Europeans The Spanish learned of the chile pepper in North America and brought it to Southeast Asia. Coffee came to the region with the Dutch. Today it is an important crop in Indonesia, Laos, & Vietnam.

7. Southeast Asian Governments Instead of states or nations, Southeast Asia was made up of mandalas. A mandala had a ruler who worked to gain support from others. The ruler used trade and business to influence others & maintain power. Over time, the mandalas developed into states then using new ideas from trade, developed into unique nations.

8. European Nations Colonize the Nations of Southeast Asia In the 19th & early 20th centuries, the European nations began to colonize the nations of Southeast Asia. The Philippines was under Spanish rule until 1898, when it came under the rule of the United States.

9. European Nations Colonize the Nations of Southeast Asia Cambodia, Laos, & Vietnam were all ruled by France. The British ruled Burma, most of Malaysia, and Singapore. The Dutch ruled Indonesia. Only Thailand never became a colony.

10. The Governments of Southeast Asia Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand are all constitutional monarchies. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore are republics. Myanmar was also a republic, but in 1988, the military overthrew the government. Since then it has been a military dictatorship. A military dictatorship is ruled by one man whose power comes from the military.

11. The Economies of Southeast Asia Many nations of Southeast Asia are developing nations. They are working to improve their economies. Three-fourths of the people in Southeast Asia live on small farms where they grow rice to feed their families, not to sell for profit. Many farmers cannot afford to buy fertilizers, chemicals, & modern equipment.

12. The Economies of Southeast Asia Industry has become more important in Southeast Asia. Small factories process crops, make clothing, & produce small electronics. *Singapore is one of the richest nations of the world. It produces electronics that are exported.

13. The Cultures of Southeast Asia People speak many languages. However, most people in Indonesia also speak Bahasa Indonesian, the national language. Other languages include: Malay, Lao, Burmese, Filipino, Mandarin, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese , & English.

14. The Cultures of Southeast Asia Buddhism is the most common religion in Southeast Asia. Other religions include: Islam, Christianity, Protestantism, & Hinduism.

15. Architecture of Southeast Asia Statues of the Buddha can be seen in temples all over Southeast Asia. Temples consist of one or more pagodas, or towers, built in many levels with sculptures of Buddha on each level. Houses, built of wood or bamboo, have roofs made of thatch, or woven palm fronds. In areas where there is flooding from monsoons, houses are built on stilts.

16. Cultures of Southeast Asia Dancing is a popular art form. A dance might tell a story from history or the Ramayana, one of India’s great epic poems. Dancers train for years. The motion of their hands often tell the story.

17. Cultures of Southeast Asia Weavers use available resources. In the Philippines, fabrics are sometimes made of pineapple fiber. In Indonesia, weavers make cotton batik, using wax and dye to make patterns on fabric.