People of SE Asia Chapter 25 Lesson One

SE Asia Land of Many Different People Malayans –Spread across region 1000s years ago –Developed own language, beliefs, and ways of life Outside Influences –Armies, merchants, and missionaries came to region –Indians, Muslims from SW Asia, Chinese, and Europeans came to region Brought their language, ways of life, and religions

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith Indians –Merchants brought Sanskrit (language) to region –Monks brought Hinduism and Buddhism to region Buddhism, mixed with Hindu ideas, had widespread influence in mainland SE Asia Daily life people mainland SE Asia shaped by Buddhist values, art, and architecture

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith Muslims –Merchants brought Arabic (language) to region –Merchants introduced Islam to SE Asia Islam took root in Malaysia and Indonesia Indonesia has world’s largest Muslim population

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith Europeans –Brought Latin (language) to region –Missionaries brought Christianity to region Chinese –Confucian ideas influenced parts of SE Asia, especially Vietnam Vietnam adopted Chinese ideas about government and styles of art

Western Powers and their Legacies European explorers reached SE Asia in 1500s –Spain, then United States controlled Philippines –French controlled Indochina Today’s Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam –Dutch controlled East Indies Today’s Indonesia –British controlled Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore

Western Legacies Legacies –U.S. started public education in Philippines –English language is official language in Philippines –U.S. improved medical care –West introduced plantations system which important part of economy

Imperialism and its effect on SE Asia’s Economy Colonial powers set up plantations –Large farms specializing in one or two crops Exported sugar, coffee, rubber, tea, palm oil, coconut oil Local farmers grew less food crops and more export crops to pay taxes –Led to food shortages

WWII and Independence in SE Asia Japan’s armed forces swept through region quickly and defeated U.S. and European military forces –Japan used victory take control of region’s raw materials –Japanese led government replaced Western colonialism Established military governments

WWII and Independence in SE Asia-continued SE Asian independence leaders organized against Japanese –Resisted any efforts to reestablish foreign rule Filipinos united in opposition against Spanish, and American rule –Gained independence after WWII