1. Civilizations of Southeast Asia
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Influences on Southeast Asia
Map: Southeast Asian Kingdoms
Early Kingdoms and Empires
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of Chinese Culture on Japan

2. Civilizations of Southeast Asia
Main Idea
The early civilizations of Southeast Asia were influenced by geography and the cultures of India and China.
Reading Focus
What factors influenced early civilizations in the region of Southeast Asia?
What early kingdoms and empires developed in Southeast Asia?

3. Influences on Southeast Asia
India and China shaped the development of civilization in the region of Southeast Asia. Geography and trade also played important roles.
Southeast Asia divided in two parts—mainland Southeast Asia, and island Southeast Asia
Mainland—modern nations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, part of Malaysia
Island—Sumatra, Borneo, Java, rest of Malaysia, Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore
Two Parts of Southeast Asia
Several rivers flow south on mainland
Valleys, deltas of rivers supported farming, home to early civilizations
Separating rivers, rugged mountains, limited contact among people
Islands surrounded by seas, straits; provided sources of food, travel, served as trade routes
Geography

5. Trade
Southeast Asia waterways, main trade routes between India, China
Two most important: Malacca Strait between Malay Peninsula, Sumatra; Sunda Strait, between Sumatra, Java
Control of these, other important trade routes, brought wealth, power
Winds
Monsoons, seasonal winds, shaped trade
Winds blow northeast in summer, southwest in winter
Ships relied on monsoons to sail from place to place, often had to wait in port until winds shifted to resume voyage
Many Southeast Asian port cities became important economic centers

6. Sea Trade in Southeast Asia
By AD 100s, Indian merchants had begun prosperous sea trade with Southeast Asia
Overland trade routes through Central Asia more dangerous after fall of Han dynasty, 220
Seaborne trade between China, India increased
Traders passed through Southeast Asia; exchanged goods for local products

7. Traders and Missionaries
India and China
Chinese, Indian traders influenced Southeast Asia
Indian influence spread through trade, missionaries
Indian missionaries introduced Hinduism, Buddhism; many kingdoms adopted the religions, built temples in Indian style
Eventually Indians brought Islam; remains strong today
Traders and Missionaries
Indian ideas on writing, science, government, art spread to Southeast Asia
Ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, came into wide use
Chinese influences spread by conquest, trade, migration
China controlled northern Vietnam at different times, strongly influenced that region
Other Influences

8. Identify Cause and Effect
How did trade influence Southeast Asia?
Answer(s): Ports became the economic centers of Southeast Asia; Indian and Chinese influence spread to Southeast Asia through trade

9. Early Kingdoms and Empires
Small but Powerful
Several early kingdoms, empires arose in Southeast Asia
Most small, a few quite powerful
Blended influences from India, China to create own unique societies, cultures
The Pagan Kingdom
AD 800s, Burmans established kingdom of Pagan, in what is now Myanmar
Located in fertile Irrawaddy River valley, ideal for rice farming
First king, Anawrahta, ruled 1044 to 1077, conquered surrounding areas
Conquests
1057, Anawrahta united much of what is now Myanmar under his rule
Conquests provided Pagan with access to trading ports
Anawrahta’s kingdom prospered

10. The Pagan Kingdom
Anawrahta, successors supported Theravada Buddhism, built thousands of Buddhist temples
Pagan became center of Buddhist learning
1287, Kublai Khan’s Mongols demanded tribute from Pagan; king refused and attacked; was crushed
One of king’s own sons killed him, then agreed to pay tribute to the Mongols
Pagan survived, but lost power
Today Myanmar people consider Pagan classical age of history, culture

11. The Khmer Empire Indian Influence Rich from Rice
Powerful Khmer empire arose southeast of Pagan, in what is now Cambodia
Early 800s, Khmer people began to conquer kingdoms around them, build great empire
Empire reached height between 850 and 1250, controlled much of Southeast Asian mainland
Expensive building projects, invaders contributed to empire’s decline
Khmer Empire reflected strong Indian influence
Adopted Hindu, Buddhist beliefs, ruled as gods
Empire’s capital city, Angkor, symbolized shape of Hindu universe, temple at its center
Indian Influence
Built vast temple complexes; Angkor Wat ruins still stand
Empire grew prosperous from rice farming
Built irrigation system covering 12.5 million acres, grew several crops per year
Rich from Rice

12. Trading Kingdoms Trading Kingdoms Sailendra Srivijaya Control Reduced
Several developed on islands of Southeast Asia
Kingdom of Sailendra on Java flourished, 750 to 850
Relied on agriculture, trade
Sailendra
Adopted Mahayana Buddhism, known for impressive Buddhist art, architecture
Borobudur monument with terraced levels most famous
Srivijaya
Wealthy empire on Sumatra, flourished 600s to 1200s
Gained wealth from control of overseas trade through Malacca, Sunda straits
Also Buddhist learning center
Control Reduced
1025, empire attacked by Indian kingdom
Empire survived, but weakened
Control of trade reduced
Islam spread; Muslims came to dominate trade in region

13. Vietnam
While most of Southeast Asia was strongly influenced by India, Vietnam was strongly influenced by China. In 111 BC the Han dynasty of China conquered the kingdom of Nam Viet, in what is now northern Vietnam. They ruled the region off and on for the next 1,000 years.
Chinese forced Vietnamese to adopt Chinese language, clothing, hairstyles
Confucianism, Daoism influenced Vietnamese society
Adopted Chinese government features, including bureaucracy
Chinese Rule
Vietnam embraced Buddhism, but still maintained traditional customs
Continued to worship nature spirits alongside other belief systems
Chinese rule shaped life in early Vietnam, but people determined to preserve own culture, identity
Traditional Customs
In hopes of regaining their independence, the Vietnamese sometimes rebelled when Chinese rule grew weak.

14. Rebellion in Vietnam Rebellion Independence Dai Viet
AD 39, one of most famous Vietnamese rebellions took place
Two sisters, Trung Trac, Trung Nhi raised army, briefly drove Chinese out
Chinese soon regained control; sisters remain heroes in Vietnam today
Independence
Early 900s, fall of China’s Tang dynasty provided Vietnamese another chance at independence; this time successful
939, established independent kingdom in what is now northern Vietnam
Dai Viet
Rulers of Dai Viet sent tribute to China, but remained independent
Chinese failed in attempts to reconquer Vietnam; 1285, Mongols invaded; Dai Viet prince Tran Quoc Toan defeated them, became a hero

15. Contrast
How did the development of early Vietnam differ from the development of kingdoms and empires in the rest of Southeast Asia?
Answer(s): was ruled by China; influenced by China rather than India

17. Video The Impact of Chinese Culture on Japan
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