Cultural Geography of Southeast Asia

1. Cultural Geography of Southeast Asia

2. Mainland Southeast Asia • Influenced by India, Chinese, Islamic, European and American cultures over 2,500 of years • 520 million people live in region • 2,500 years ago groups from China moved into region • Khmers- Cambodia, Vietnam • Mons- Myanmar • Malays- Malay Peninsula and Indonesia • Developed agricultural civilizations

3. Mainland SE Asia • Population densities vary across region • Laos lowest population density • Vietnam highest • Population concentrated along fertile coastal plain • Ready supply of water, transportation, fertile land • Many moving to cities for economic opportunity

4. Mainland Southeast Asia Cities • For centuries majority lived in rural villages • Many today moving to urban areas • Cities provide greater opportunities and access • 11 cities of more than 1 million • Some countries have primate city, economic center, major port, often the capital • Bangkok- 650% growth over 50 year period (1950-1998) • Public services not adequate, government trying offer incentives to have industry and cities return to rural areas

5. Outward Migration • Since 1970’s because of political and economic troubles many SE Asians left region • US has large numbers of immigrants from the region • Causes countries to lose skilled labor force needed for economic growth

6. Mainland SE Asia • Early Civilizations- agricultural, based on rice production, domesticated cattle and pigs • Funan- first empire in SE Asia, adopted Hinduism, Indian model of centralized government • Khmer Empire- surplus agriculture brought wealth to mainland • 1100’s-1200’s Khmer Empire, based in present day Cambodia • Advanced irrigation and agriculture allowed them to feed huge population and diversify society • Angkor Wat architectural achievement, designed to resemble home of Hindu gods

7. Mainland SE Asia • Srivijaya Empire- based on island of Sumatra • Maritime empire controlled trade in the region 600-1300 • Used navy to control Straits of Malacca • Vietnam- struggled against Chinese • China conquered region 111 B.C. • Introduced ideas about religion, government and philosophy

8. Mainland SE Asia • Western Colonization- 1500’s Europeans begin to control trade • Siam (Thailand) was a buffer state separating British and French controlled areas, only southeast Asian area to remain free from European control • Europeans brought change to region • Built roads, railroads, improved harbors, expanded mining, established commercial plantations • All profits went to westerners • Increased tension and conflict in region • Asians received low wages • Plantation owners imported workers to meet growing demand for goods, contributed to ethnic diversity of region

9. Mainland SE Asia • Post WWII- after war countries struggle to regain control of region, SE Asians wanted independence, after two decades all countries were independent of European powers • Communism divided Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia • Vietnam- US unsuccessfully intervened in the 1960’s and 1970’s to stop spread of communism • Ethnic conflicts across region have resulted in militant terrorist groups emerging (many anti- western) • Some countries have recently moved toward democracy, some are still communist (Laos, Vietnam), Myanmar is a military dictatorship

10. Cambodia: Population Decline • Since 1970’s population growth slow in Cambodia • 1975-1979 lost 38% of population due to harsh rule by Khmer Rouge communist government • Forced people out of cities to countryside to become farmers • More than 1 million died • Starvation, torture, execution of people considered intellectuals (doctors, teachers)

11. Mainland SE Asia • Cultures in region reflect ethnic diversity • China and India shaped much of the cultural development of the region • Since 1945 literacy has increased in parts of region where there are resources • Health care is inadequate in many countries, mostly in rural areas • Many different languages spoken • Come from 2 major language families- Sino-Tibetan, Mon-Khmer • Many languages reflect colonial power French (Vietnam) • All major religions of the world are represented • Buddhism is the predominant religion

12. Island SE Asia • Includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor, Philippines • Spices attracted outsiders to region • Merchants from India came for spices and introduced Hinduism and Buddhism • Chinese influenced cultures of Brunei and Singapore where more than 70% of population has Chinese ancestry • Around 800 A.D. Arab traders came and introduced Islam • 1500’s Europeans arrive to take advantage of trade and natural resources

13. Island SE Asia • People live mostly along coastal plain, mountainous interiors are sparsely populated • Population growing faster than global average • Some islands have high population densities • Java has over 2,300 people per square mile • Singapore is the most densely populated country • People migrate to cities for economic and educational opportunities • Jakarta has over 10 million people, the government is trying to reduce overcrowding by relocating population to smaller islands

14. Island SE Asia • History of region is connected to control of trade routes • Different empires have profited from control of Straits of Malacca • Today Singapore owes its prosperity to these same trade routes • Europeans brought physical improvements • After WWII many countries won their independence from European powers • 2002 East Timor, a Catholic country gained its independence from largely Muslim Indonesia • 1998 Indonesia moved toward democracy after years of a dictatorship • Philippines, East Timor and Singapore are democracies • Brunei and Malaysia are constitutional monarchies

15. Island SE Asia • Since independence education and health care and quality of life have improved • Literacy rates are high • Health care is better than mainland SE Asia • Indonesia has government sponsored health care and Singapore has health care as good as developed countries • Indonesia has over 300 ethnic groups and 250 distinct languages, makes it hard to unify country • Other regional languages reflect colonialism; Philippines, Malaysia (English), • Islam is wide spread across the region, Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in the world • The Philippines are mostly Roman Catholic

17. Island SE Asia • Architecture- religious structures influenced by religion • Borobudur Temple- Indonesia, built of volcanic stone, stages of shrines represent Buddha's journey to enlightenment • Catholic Churches built by Spanish • Mosques found in Muslim countries