1. Southeast Asia

2. Tropical Almost all of SE Asia lies within the tropics
Unique climate led to unique plants
Nutmeg and cloves in eastern Indonesia
Thick tropical forests
Worked as a shield from the north
Thus, sailing was preferable
Fertile rivers from the highlands
Low altitude valleys for agriculture

3. Interconnectedness Link between India and China
High altitude v. Low
Link between India and China
Traders were drawn to SE Asia
Unique indigenous goods
Chinese and Indian goods
The “East Indies” markets
Indonesia as hub of trade
17,000 islands with rough inlands and volcanoes
Sailing preferred
Waters here are shallow, calm, and warm
Minus the Philippines, which sees typhoons regularly
Shallow water v. Deep

4. Beauty and the 3rd World Categorizing regions of the world 1st world2 3
Categorizing regions of the world
1st world
Western, modern, and democratic
2nd world
Developing, industrializing, and semi-democratic
3rd world
Struggling, foreign ownership, and corruption
Pollution, dumping, and waste management
Internal and external issues
E-waste and 1st world dumping in the 3rd world

5. Consistency Equatorial climates are predictable
Consistent rain and fertile land
Led to ethnic groups emerging and prospering
Vietnamese
Burmese
Thai

6. Diversity World languages: 6,000 | 1,000 are in SE Asia
Well-connected through sailing and trade
Hinduism, Chinese philosophy, Islam all spread peacefully
Highlands and isolated communities
Localized and sedentary

7. 3rd World Struggles Two main cultural blends Mainland Island
Indian and Chinese
Island
Chinese, Indian, Western, and the indigenous Austronesian culture
Poor nations
Foreign encroachment
Corruption
Crime