Section 2 – Diverse Traditions of Southeast Asia I. Geography of Southeast Asia
Buddhism was one of many exports from Setting the Scene Buddhism was one of many exports from India that had a profound effect on the peoples of Southeast Asia. Sandwiched between China and India, the region known today as Southeast Asia was strongly influenced by both of these powerful neighbors. Yet the distinct cultures of Southeast Asia retained their own unique identities.
A. Location Southeast Asia consists of two major regions: Mainland SE Asia Island SE Asia
Location The mainland is separated from the rest of Asia by mountains and high plateaus
A. Location Mountains separate the four main river valleys: the Irrawaddy, Chao Phraya, Mekong, and Red
The river valleys were home to early civilizations A. Location The river valleys were home to early civilizations
A. Location All trade had to pass through the Malacca or Sunda straits - whoever controlled the straits controlled trade
B. Trade Routes in the Southern Seas The monsoons, or seasonal winds, shaped trading patterns
Shwedagon Pagoda Rangoon, Myanmar C. Early Traditions The peoples of Southeast Asia’s river valleys developed their own unique cultures Thailand Shwedagon Pagoda Rangoon, Myanmar
II. Impact of India Indian merchants, Hindu priests, and Buddhist monks spread their culture in SE Asia between 500 and 1000 AD
By the 1200s, Muslims ruled northern India B. Islam By the 1200s, Muslims ruled northern India
B. Islam Traders spread Islamic beliefs and civilization throughout the islands of SE Asia
III. New Kingdoms and Empires Indian influences and local cultures produced kingdoms and empires in Southeast Asia
A. Pagan The kingdom of Pagan arose in the fertile rice- growing Irrawaddy Valley (Myanmar)
In 1044, King Anawrahtar united the region A. Pagan In 1044, King Anawrahtar united the region and made Pagan a major Buddhist center The Ananda Temple, Pagan
A. Pagan Pagan fell in 1287 to the Mongols
B. The Khmer Empire The Khmer empire (800 to 1350) controlled much of Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia
B. The Khmer Empire In the 1100s, King Suryavarman II built a great temple complex at Angkor Wat
B. The Khmer Empire Angkor Wat temple - hundreds of carved figures tell Hindu myths and glorify the king
C. Srivijaya The trading empire of Srivijaya flourished from the 600s to the 1200s
IV. Vietnam Emerges A. Chinese Domination In 111 BC, Han armies conquered Vietnam and remained in control for 1,000 years
A. Chinese Domination Vietnam was able to break free from China in 939 when the Tang dynasty collapsed In AD 39, two noble sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, led an uprising that briefly drove the Chinese occupiers from the land. They tried to restore a simpler form of government based on ancient Vietnamese traditions
C. Religion
Most of the world’s major religions are represented in the region C. Religion Most of the world’s major religions are represented in the region
Islam - the main religion in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei C. Religion Islam - the main religion in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei
Christianity is practiced in areas once controlled by Europeans C. Religion Christianity is practiced in areas once controlled by Europeans
Buddhism is another major religion C. Religion Buddhism is another major religion
China has a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism C. Religion China has a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism •42.2% are nonreligious •28.5% adhere to Chinese folk religion •8.4% profess Buddhism •8.1% are Atheists •7.1% are Christians •4.3% are Muslims •1.5% are Taoists
The Japanese mainly practice Shinto and Buddhism C. Religion The Japanese mainly practice Shinto and Buddhism