Myanmar and Thailand

1. Myanmar and Thailand Formerly Burma and Siam

2. Objectives • Identify Myanmar and Thailand on a blank map. • Discuss the instability of these nations using the word coup. • Identify how both of these nations are built around the same types of land formations. • Identify where minority and majority groups within these nations in respect to their landforms.

3. Terms and Places Irrawaddy River is the large river in Myanmar. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. A coup iswhen the military takes over the government. Aung San Suu Kyi is Myanmar’s elected leader, now under house arrest.

4. Where are Myanmar and Thailand? On the east of Thailand lies the communist countries of southeast Asia. Myanmar and its Thailand are the diving point between the Indian Ocean to the west and the South China Sea (part of the Pacific Ocean) to the east. Mountains on Myanmar’s west separate it from India. Mountains on the north separate Myanmar from China.

5. Shan Khorat Both Myanmar and Thailand have fertile plateaus on their east. Both Myanmar and Thailand are built around river valleys. Both Myanmar and Thailand originally located their capitals on the fertile delta regions at the mouths of these rivers.

6. Both of their population centers are there at the river deltas. However, Thailand has another population center along the coast of the Malay Peninsula.

7. Myanmar Thailand

8. Both nations have beautiful landscapes and temples that lure tourist dollars.

10. Government

11. However, both nations have experienced political unrest.

12. In Myanmar, the Buddhist monks have resisted the government there.

17. In 2005, Myanmar moved its capital to a brand new city. Perhaps they thought Yangon – being on the coast – was vulnerable to foreign attack.

20. Ethnic Groups

21. Myanmar used to be called Burma because the Burmese people are the majority. The Burmese people live in the Irrawaddy River Valley, the best land. The minority peoples live in the surrounding mountainous land and on the eastern plateau.

22. Thailand has fewer minorities, but again, the Thai people hold the river valley and the minorities are in the highlands on the country’s edges.

23. Both Burmese and Thai have their own unique alphabet.

24. Economy Are the people here wealthy or poor? What is the main source of wealth? What natural resources or industries exist? What do most people do for a living? Do they have their own money system?

25. Health and economy in Thailand is similar to other East and Southeast Asian countries. Myanmar’s health and economy is poorer than most other East and Southeast Asian countries.

26. Half of Myanmar’s economy is..

27. Thailand is the world’s #1 producer of computer hard drives.

28. The majority ethnic groups and the minority ethnic groups live in similar places in both Myanmar and Thailand. Which of the below best describes where they live? Myanmar and Thailand each have coastline on what two oceans? Indian and Pacific The majority ethnic groups live in the countryside; the minority ethnic groups live in the cities. Atlantic and Pacific Atlantic and Indian The majority ethnic groups live on the mainland; the minority ethnic groupslive on the islands. Which is the best description of how physical geography affected the growth of Myanmar and Thailand? The majority ethnic groups live in the central river valleys; the minority ethnic groups live in the mountains around the edges. They both developed along river valleys. They both developed on the edges of deserts. What is a coup? It is when a political party refuses to allow an election. They both developed along coastlines. It is when the military takes over the government. They both developed along mountain chains. It is when a political party loses an election, but refuses to release power.

29. Please read • “Thailand.” Geographica. http://www.geographia.com/thailand • “Natural Resources.” World Explorer: Eastern Hemisphere. Prentice-Hall, 1998. pg. 552-553. • Topic: bamboo, fertile river valleys, Himalayan farming • Vocab: surplus, cash crop, Thailand, Java “Thailand: Jewel of the Orient.” PBS. http://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand