Southeast Asia and Oceania

Southeast Asia and Oceania Chapters 30-32

Landforms • Peninsulas and Islands • Two distinct regions: Southeastern corner of Asian mainland and many islands • Archipelago: a set of closely grouped islands which sometimes curve in an arc • Indochina Peninsula and Malay Peninsula come from mainland Asia • Mountains and Volcanoes • Volcanoes and earthquakes cause many tsunamis

Landforms • Rivers and Coastlines • Several large rivers in the mainland • Mekong River- starts in China and flows through several SE Asia nations and creates a delta in Vietnam • Resources • Fertile soil is a valuable resource • Flowing volcanoes and flooding rivers add nutrients to the soil • Plentiful fisheries on these rivers

Lands of Oceania and the Pacific • No one knows the exact total of islands in the Pacific. • Estimates are up to more than 20,000 • Low Islands: made of coral reefs • High Islands: created by volcanoes

Climate • Widespread Tropics: Two types of Tropics • Tropical wet climate: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Oceania • High temperatures • Average over 100 inches of rain per year • Tropical wet and dry climate: Laos, Cambodia, and northern Australia • Monsoons shape the weather • Area may dictate rainfall (ex. Mountains)

Climate • Mild Summers and Cool winters • New Zealand’s marine west coast climate • Mountains influence this climate • Hot and Cold Deserts • Arid Australia • 1/3 of Australia is desert in the center of the continent • Outback: the unpopulated, desert region of central Australia • The White Desert • Located around the South Pole • Cold air prevents precipitation

Human-Environment Interaction • Invasions of the Rabbits • In 1859, Thomas Austin released 24 rabbits in Australia for hunting • Rabbits can have up to 184 descendants in 18 months • Australia does not have the natural predators for rabbits • Rabbit population grew to more than a billion by 1900 • Rabbits graze the plant life and destroyed crops

Human-Environment Interaction • Government responds • Tried to import foxes • Foxes just made other animal populations decrease as well • Tried to build a 2,000 mile fence • Rabbits bit through the fence • Tried to poison the rabbits • It declined the rabbit population by 90% • Rabbits became immune to the poison • Today, the government is trying a combination of fences, poisons, and destroying rabbit homes • No one knows if it is actually working

Human-Environment Interaction • Nuclear Testing • As part of the United States’ nuclear testing during the Cold War • Bikini Islands were chosen for tests • US government moved the 167 islanders to a new island chain • Some islands were vaporized by the tests • Islanders moved back and suffered high levels of radiation • The islands are not habitable today and no one knows when they will be able to be lived on again.

Southeast Asia • Many cultures influence SE Asia • China influenced the region most • Hinduism and Buddhism spread • Area didn’t have set borders • Organized into rings of power known as mandalas • Centered around a center court • Neighboring mandalas might have overlapped and were forced to have alliances • The Khmer Empire was the largest and ruled what is now Cambodia

Southeast Asia • European Colonialism • Europeans began to arrive in 1509 • Didn’t want land at first, they wanted resources • Gain wealth • By the 20th century, savvy business and trade moves had positioned Europe into owning all of SE Asia except for Siam (now Thailand) • Japan took over large chunks of SE Asia in claiming “Asia for Asians.” • After WWII, many had to fight for independence between 1946-1949 • Indochina started war for independence against the French in 1954 -created Laos, Cambodia, North and South Vietnam • Communism took over all countries after 1975

Southeastern Asia • Economies • Rice is the main crop of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar • Teak wood: yellowish-brown wood valued for its durability comes from Myanmar • ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an alliance that promotes economic growth and peace • Has allowed countries to grow manufacturing quickly as well finance centers • All countries in the area are members.

Southeastern Asia • Changing Lifestyles • The Villages • Live in wooden houses on stilts for protection against floods • Most villages have a Buddhist temple • Lead by a group of leaders that stress cooperation • Traditional clothing worn but starting to modernize slowly • The Cities • Huge skyscrapers and modern businesses. • Shortage of housing for the large number of people migrating to the cities

Oceania • Oceania includes: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu • Sometimes Australia and New Zealand • First people came to these islands from the mainland exploring • Sailed by boat to get there • Broke up into three regions: • Micronesia: tiny islands • Melanesia: black islands • Polynesia: many islands

Oceania • First contact with Europeans in the 1500s • Traders wanted coconut oil, sugar, and fruits • Hunters wanted whales • Oceania played a vital part in WWII • Used in United States’ campaign of “Island Hopping” • Used for nuclear tests

Oceania • Most of Oceania economies are subsistence activities • Only make, grow, and build what is truly needed • The only exception is Nauru • They mine phosphate for fertilizers • Supply will run out soon • Tourism is very popular

Oceania • Language and Religion • One of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world • 825 languages spoke in Papua New Guinea alone • English is the most common in region • Due to missionary work • Also helped spread Christianity • Island Life • Many villages living the way they have for centuries • Fishing, farming, and living with large extended families • Rapidly growing cities and infrastructure that will eventually connect all the islands.

Australia and New Zealand • In 1788, Great Britain founded Sydney, Australia as a penal colony • The Original Inhabitants migrated 40,000 years ago and are called Aboriginals. • They had a complex religion and social structure • New Zealand was first inhabited by the Maori • Came from Polynesia and lived by fishing, hunting, and farming • Captain James Cook was the first to explore the area for Britain

Australia and New Zealand • European Settlement • Australia was founded as a penal colony • Many fights between the British and the Aboriginals • New Zealand was founded by hunters and whalers • The British and Maori tribes signed the Treaty of Waitangi to give Britain control of New Zealand • Economy • Both are members of the British Commonwealth and prosper with their help • Major farm goods exporter • Mine gold, coal, diamonds, copper, and zinc

Australia and New Zealand • Distinct Cultures: • Australia • Most Australians are of British descent • Changing due to immigration • Mostly Christian society • Live a lot like Britain • Drink tea and drive on the left side of the road • Accents • New Zealand • Mostly from British and European descent • Called pakehas- Maori for white people • Maori got along with the British and have flourished

Australia and New Zealand • Modern Life • City and Country • 89% and 87% of Australian and New Zealanders live in cities • Some of the most urbanized in the world • Farmers and ranchers live far from societies • Recreation • Spend a great deal of time outdoors • Due to climate • Australian rules football (like rugby), tennis, golf, baseball, skiing, mountain climbing

SE Asia and Oceania Issues Today • Aboriginal Land Claims • Aborigines wanted tribal lands that they claimed were lost • Australian government denied them these lands • Used for farming and mining • More land claims • Land Rights Act of 1976 • Gave Aboriginal people the right to claim land in the Northern Territory • Australian government also took mixed race children from 1906-1969 and made them live with white families • Learn the English and Western ways and NOT indigenous ways • What claims does a more developed people have over a less developed people that have been there longer?

SE Asia and Oceania Issues Today • Industrialization • People trying to escape poverty see this as a way to prosper • People move to cities to gain these jobs • Push Factors: forces that push people out of their homelands • Lost resources, soil erosion, land scarcity, higher village populations • Pull Factors: Pull people to a new place • Industry, job opportunities, desire for education, city life • How does a nation grow their economies while not hurting their infrastructure?

Southeast Asia and Oceania