Southeast Asia

1. Southeast Asia Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica Unit 11

2. Southeast Asia Cultural Geography Ch. 30

3. Many cultural influences have shaped Southeast Asia over thousands of years. • Each of these cultures-Chinese, Indian, Islamic, European, and American has made its own unique contributions to the politics, economics, and religions of the region

5. Cultural Geography of Australia, Oceania, & Antarctica

6. The region of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica is a blend of indigenous peoples that arrived from Asia as early as 60,000 years ago • European colonists, and later Asian immigrants. • Today the countries have a mix of modern, urban lifestyles and traditional lifestyles with strong kinship ties.

8. Human Characteristics Southeast Asia's about 520 million people are descendants of indigenous peoples, Indians, Chinese, Arabs, and European colonists. Their political, economic, and religious ideas and practices have blended with existing Southeast Asian traditions • Indigenous Peoples • Many SE Asians are descended from migrants who came to the region from China & Tibet 2,500 years ago • Khmers& Mons: settled on the mainland • Malays: moved into the Malay Peninsula & the Indonesian islands • Indian & Chinese Influences • Outsiders came to the region to trade • During the 2nd century Indian traders introduced Hinduism & Buddhism • The Chinese ruled Vietnam for a thousand years • Today the region is home to many Chinese & Indian ethnic communities

11. Human Characteristics • Islamic Influences • In the 9th century Muslim traders arrived setting up trade routes & introducing Islam to the region • Today Muslims live in most SE Asian countries • Form a majority in Brunei, Malaysia, & Indonesia • Western Colonization • European explorers traded for spices & other rich resources during the 15th & 16th century • Eventually all of the region except for Thailand came under European control

13. Human Characteristics • Aborigines • Australia's Aborigines, who probably arrived from Southeast Asia 40,000 to 60,000 years ago • May have the oldest surviving culture in the world • Today they make up 2% of the population • New Zealand’s indigenous people are called the Maori • From Polynesia, hunter-farmers • Pacific Islanders • The islands of Oceania were probably first settled by peoples from Asia more than 30,000 years ago • Europeans • Europeans began arriving in the 1500s and now make up the majority of the population in Australia and New Zealand • Most of the population in the region is European • Asians • Asians followed the Europeans during the 1800s • Many have migrated in search of jobs

16. Population Growth • Population Density • Many of the people live in fertile river valleys or on the coastal plains • Highland areas usually have fewer people than lowland areas • Indonesia: 212 million people live on 13,600 islands. Population density is 286 people/sq. mile • Singapore: region’s smallest country-greatest population density (16,732 people/sq. mile) • Population Growth & Rates • Population is growing faster than the world average • Countries are taking steps to slow population growth • Cambodia: Population Decline • Between 1975 & 1979 the Khmer Rouge (communist regime) governed the country through harsh control • Cambodia lost 38% of its people • Many died due to starvation, torture, & executions

18. Movement to the Cities • Although many countries in the region are largely rural, urbanization and overcrowding in the primate cities have created challenges. • Some countries are trying to solve these problems by encouraging people to return to rural areas

19. Cities

20. Southeast Asian Rural Life

21. Outward Migration • Outward migration has also eased some of the overcrowding • However, it contributes to countries losing skilled and educated workers.

22. Languages • Before modern technological advances, geographic barriers separated South Pacific people • Almost half of the world's languages are spoken in Oceania alone • With the arrival of Europeans Strine and pidgin English developed • English is the chief language of Australia, & New Zealand • French is the widely spoken on islands under French control

23. Early Civilizations • Early people in SE Asia were rice farmers • Artisans skilled in metalwork were casting bronze in 3,000 BC • Nearly 1,000 years before the Chinese developed the skill • Early SE Asian societies were matriarchal, & people worshiped ancestors & animal & nature spirits

24. Where People Live Since much of the region's land is unsuited for humans, most people live in coastal areas and in cities • Australia has almost 98% of the habitable land & 2/3 of the people • Uneven population distribution due to variations in physical features & climate • Antarctica is home to between 1,000 & 10,000 researchers & scientists • Oceania’s population is unevenly distributed • Most people live in coastal areas

26. Australia’s population density is highest in the coastal urban areas (6 people/sq. mile) The harsh interior of the continent is sparsely populated Oceania’s relatively young population increases by about 2.3% each year Some of its islands are densely populated Others have a few people per square mile Population Density

30. Each of the port cities of Sydney & Melbourne, Australia is home to more than 3 million people New Zealand’s large cities include Auckland, Wellington, & Christchurch (all port cities) Urban areas throughout the regions draw migrants from within their country & other countries 70% of Oceania's population is urban Australia’s industries offer jobs to immigrants from nay regions 26% of Australia’s population is foreign born Diversity enriches the cultures of the region & also creates conflicts over immigration, health benefits, employment, and the effects of colonial rule Urbanization & Immigration

32. Kingdoms & Empires Many early civilizations in the region gained power by controlling shipping and trade or by accumulating wealth from crops grown in fertile soil • Funan • Influenced by Indian traders during the 2nd century • Adopted Hinduism & Indian forms of government • Excelled in farming & metalworking, & traded with surrounding regions • Khmer • In the 1100’s & 1200’s the Khmer set up an empire along the Mekong River • Covered most of the Indochina Peninsula • Skilled in irrigation & grew 4 rice crops each year • Magnificent architecture influenced by Indian & local styles • Angkor Wat

33. Funan Empire

34. Khmer Empire

35. Kingdoms & Empires • Srivijaya • Based on Sumatra • Ruled from 600-1300 on SE Asian Seas • Especially the Strait of Malacca • Singapore owes its prosperity to these same trade routes • Vietnam • Fought off Chinese invaders until 111 BC • Chinese continued to rule the Vietnamese for about 1,000 years • Islam • Beginning in the 9th century Muslim Arab merchants & missionaries converted many coastal SE Asians to Islam • In the 1400’s Islam spread throughout the Malay Peninsula & nearby islands • Malacca became an important center for Islamic culture

37. Western Colonization • By the 1500s Europeans claimed spheres of influence in the region and later acquired lands as colonies. • The Netherlands: Indonesia • Great Britain: Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, & Brunei • France: Indochina (Cambodia, Vietnam, & Laos) • United States: Philippines • They brought widespread economic changes, including railroads, expanded mining, and large commercial plantations

39. Struggle for Freedom • After World War II, Southeast Asians struggled to gain independence from their former colonial rulers. • Westerners tried to regain control but by 1965 anti-colonial struggles had brought independence to the region’s lands • Vietnam War: in 1954 communist forces defeated the French. Vietnam divided into communist & non-communist factions. The US got involved in the 1960’s/1970’s. By the mid 1970’s all of Vietnam was under communist control • Since then, the region has seen conflicts over political and ethnic differences • Conflict between ethnic Malays & Chinese and Indian communities in Malaysia • East Timor broke away from Indonesia due to its Roman Catholic religion

41. Indigenous Peoples • Early Migrations • Various peoples from Asia settled the South pacific regions over 40,000 years ago • Some may have crossed land bridges that are now submerged; others probably sailed in canoes & rafts • Indigenous Lifestyles • The Aborigines led a nomadic life, moving in clans within their ancestral territories • Family groups in Oceania settled along island coasts • Increased trade among these groups led to migrations among the islands and the eventual settlement of New Zealand by the Maori

44. European Colonization • European settlements began with the explorations of British sailor James Cook and the British penal colony of Botany Bay in today's Sydney, Australia. • The British & other Europeans founded settlements in Oceania & later in New Zealand • Oceania was ideal for large commercial plantations that produced sugarcane, pineapples, & other tropical products • Colonization had disastrous results for the indigenous peoples

46. Struggle for Power • Britain, France, Spain, the United States, & Germany spent the late 1800’s & early 1900’s struggling for control of various Pacific islands • After WWI Japan took over most of the German-controlled islands • Most countries in the region won their independence after World War II. • An international agreement established Antarctica as a peaceful research site

48. The indigenous peoples in the region developed lifestyles and traditions in harmony with their natural environment • These blended with European and later Asian elements

50. Forms of Government • Democratic Republics • Indonesia • the Philippines • Singapore • Military Government • Myanmar • Constitutional Monarchy • Brunei • Cambodia • Malaysia • Thailand • Communist Government • Laos • Vietnam