1 South Asia – Ch 30 & 31 Cultural Geography & Life

2 Population Patterns Indonesia – 4 th largest population in the world Brunei – smallest population in this region Most people in this region live either in the river valley lowlands or on the coastal plains Java – one of the most densely populated islands in the world Singapore – the country with the least area in this region is also the most densely populated

3 History & Government Many empires in SE Asia developed around strategic ports developed by the Europeans During WWII, Japan forced Western nations out of SE Asia. After the war, western powers tried to regain control but they faced demands by the SE Asian people for independence By 1965, all of the region’s peoples had won independence

4 History & Government (cont.) 3 Types of governments are present in this region today. –Republics – Indonesia, the Philippines, & Singapore –Socialist Republics – Vietnam, Laos, & Myanmar –Constitutional Monarchy – Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, & Cambodia Read the insert about Singapore (pg. 619)

5 Cultures & Lifestyles The culture of this region reflects migration by people from other regions. Hundreds of languages are spoken in this region. These languages stem from three language families –Malayo-Polynesian, Sino-Tibetan, & Mon-Khmer The major religions of the area are Muslim (38%), Buddhist (33%), Christian (23%)

6 Cultures & Lifestyles (cont.) Buddhism & Hinduism have influenced SE Asia’s art & architecture –In the city of Pagan, Myanmar, more than 3,000 Buddhist monasteries (temples) were built Life Expectancy - Laos & Cambodia (53), Singapore (77) Literacy Rate – Thailand (94%), Laos (57%)

7 Living in Southeast Asia Rice farming is the most important agricultural activity in this region –50% of the farmland is used of this –Water Buffalo or Oxen are usually used to plow Myanmar – leading exporter of teakwood Brunei – got rich from oil & has one of the largest natural gas plants in the world Indonesia – one of the top ten petroleum producers in OPEC Malaysia, Thailand, & Indonesia – 3 of the world’s leading tin producers

8 Living in SE Asia (cont.) Singapore is a free-port. Goods can be unloaded, stored, and shipped again w/out payment of import duties. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – formed in 1967 to increase regional development and trade. Water transportation is the most common way to move goods in this region

9 People & Their Environment Industrialization of some cities has caused an increase of pollution Volcanoes, Floods, Typhoons, Cyclones (means “coil”) are natural causes of destruction