Diverse Cultures of Southeast Asia
By. Lauren Commuso and Alexis Newsome
Geography of Southeast Asia
- Made up of two major regions;
- Mainland Southeast Asia:
- Several peninsulas between India and China
- Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and part of Malaysia.
- Island Southeast Asia:
- 20,000 islands between Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
- Indonesia Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.
- Mountains separate the mainland from the rest of Asia.
- Mountains separated four main river valleys of Southeast Asia- the Irrawaddy, Chao Phraya, Mekong, and Red.
- They were home to early civilizations.
- Rich trade routs
- Trade Routs:
- monsoons shaped trading patterns.
- Ships traveled northeast in the summer, Southwest in the winter.
- Merchants harbored their vessels in Southeast Asian ports.
- International trade network linked India, Southeast Asia, and China to East Africa and the Middle East.
- Key products- spices.
- Early Traditions:
- Archaeologist have found jars and bronze bracelets at least 5,000 years old.
- Many Languages.
- Isolated Villages.
- Own religion culture patterns
- Built around the nuclear family rather than extended families.
- Woman had equality in Southeast Asia.
- Accepted custom
- Free to marry who ever and divorcing their marriage partners.
Indian Culture Spreads to Southeast Asia
- Indian traders settled in Southeast Asian port cities in growing numbers.
- Brought prosperity as merchants exchanged products such as cotton cloth, Jewels, and perfume.
- Exercised considerable power.
- Hinduism and Buddhism took root.
- After Islam carried into India.
- Muslims ruled northern India.
- Traders spread Islamic beliefs and Muslim culture.
- Largest population
New Kingdoms and Empires Emerge
- Pagan arose in the fertile rice-growing Irrawaddy Valley.
- King Anawrahta united the region.
- Brought Buddhism to the Burman people.
- Filled the capital city with stupas; dome shaped shrines.
- Pagan flourished for some 200 years after Anawrahta's death, but fell in 1287
- Mongols concord.
- They took back pride.
- Indian influences also helped shed the Khmer empire.
- Peeked between 800 and 1350
- Excepted Indian writing, mathematics, architecture, and art.
- Khmer rulers became pious Hindus.
- saw themselves as god-kings.