World Regional Geography April 19, 2010 Reading: Marston Chapter 9 pages Chapter 1 pages Goode’s World Atlas pages , (East, Southeast, and South Asia) Atauro Island, East Timor

Southeast Asia 1.Political Boundaries 2.History A.Chinese/Indian Influence B.European Colonialism C.Independence D.The Vietnam War E.Geopolitical Hotspot 3.Population Characteristics 4.Environmental History and Issues 5.Culture and Ethnicity 6.Economic Development 7.Gender A.Gender Equity B.Gender & Development C.Southeast Asian Sex Trade Garden of the Buddhas, Laos

Political Boundaries

History Chinese / Indian Influence Agriculture, trade, religion Hinduism (God-Kings) Attractive to local chiefs Led to two types of cities Port cities (trade) Spiritual/ceremonial cities (religion) Angkor Wat, Cambodia Temple complex dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. Built in the early 12 th century.

History: European Colonialism Mercantile Period ( ) Industrial Period ( ) Six colonial powers Portugal Spain Netherlands Great Britain France United States Thailand (Siam)

History: European Colonialism Important trade routes China – India Malacca Important commodities Spices (spice islands) Nutmeg Cinnamon Cloves Raw materials Tin Rubber Hardwoods Rice Coffee Sugar

History: Independence Japanese Occupation (WWII) Weakens European hold on region Peaceful Independence Philippines (from US) Burma & Malaysia (from Britain) Singapore (from Malaysia) Indonesia Violent opposition to Dutch French Indochina Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Cold war politics & war

The Vietnam War Communists in French Indochina fight for independence from Japan and France. Cambodia and Laos achieve independence following French withdrawal (1954). U.N. divides Vietnam into North and South Vietnam. China and USSR support communist regime in the North. US supports capitalist South Vietnam. US pulls out in 1973, Vietnam united under communist rule.

The Spratly Islands Series of islands (largely coral atolls) in the South China Sea. Islands claimed by six nations Brunei China Malaysia Philippines Taiwan Vietnam Oil/natural gas Rights to marine resources.

Mainland: river deltas & port cities Islands Java (Jakarta) Luzon (Manila) Population Density

Population Characteristics RegionPopulation(Millions) Birth Rate Death Rate Natural Increase (%) Net Migration Rate Projected Pop. Change (2050) South East Asia % RegionIMRTFR % Pop <15 % Pop >65 Life Expectancy MaleFemale South East Asia Region HIV/AIDS % % Urban GNI PPP (US$) South East Asia ,520 Indonesia accounts for about 1/2 of the population HIV/AIDS rising quickly (2% in Thailand) due to sex industry Significant income variations Brunei: $50,200, Myanmar: $1,290

Migration Transmigration (Indonesia) Government program From urban to rural Cultural unity Consolidation of political power Migrant workers Indonesians to the Middle East Chinese Refugees War, ethnic conflict, and poverty

Environmental History & Issues Tropical Rain Forest Biodiversity 2 nd only to Amazon Wallace’s Line Agriculture Wet rice Terraces Irrigation Slash & Burn Deforestation Agriculture and forest products Erosion, flooding, mudslides Ecosystem destruction

Culture & Ethnicity Diversity 500 different ethnic and language groups Cultural cohesion Majority populations within national boundaries

Culture & Ethnicity Religion Buddhism: Mainland Islam Indonesia Malaysia Brunei Christianity Philippines East Timor Pockets of Hinduism Burma Indonesia (Bali, Java)

Economic Development Import Substitution Encourage domestic industry Decrease dependence on primary sector Shift to export-oriented growth Strong ties to major trade routes Rapid growth in 1980’s Asian economic crises in 1990’s Debt crises Withdrawal of foreign investments Very high unemployment Socio-economic issues Urban / Rural inequality Labor exploitation: sweatshops Sex trade

Gender Equity Developed vs. developing world Power Reproductive rights Patriarchal family structures Access to education Division of labor Women often perform the bulk of physical labor Planting & harvesting Food preparation Child-care Income gap Violence against women Middle east (related to rights) India (wealth, reproduction) Rural regions of the developed world

Development & Gender Equality

Southeast Asian Sex Trade Women and children sold into bondage Domestic (sex-tourism) International (sex-trafficking)