1. The Cultural Geography of Southeast Asia
Chapter 30, Section 1: Mainland Southeast Asia

2. Important Vocabulary
Primate City: a city that serves as a country’s major port, economic center, and often its capital. Ex: Bangkok, Thailand.
Maritime: meaning seafaring. Ex: early empires.
Sphere of Influence: agreed-upon areas of control. Ex: European Powers.

3. Vocabulary (Cont’d)
Buffer State: a neutral territory that is between rival powers. Ex: Kingdom of Siam.
Martial Law: the control and policing of civilians by military rules. Ex: Myanmar.
Wat: meaning temple.

4. Map of Mainland

5. The People Migrants from China and Tibet 2,500 years ago.
The Khmers – Cambodia, Vietnam; Thailand.
The Mons – Thailand and Burma (Myanmar).
The Thais – Thailand and Laos.

6. Distribution People live in fertile river valleys or coastal plains.
Increasing urbanization.
Mass emigration from Vietnam and Laos since

7. Early Civilizations Early peoples – skilled farmers and metalworkers.
Power and wealth through the mother’s family.

8. Kingdoms & Empires Both farming and maritime empires.
Indian trading posts in Gulf of Thailand (100s AD).
Kingdom of Funan developed.
Khmer Empire ( s); Angkor Wat.

9. Western Colonization European traders in 1500s.
British and French set-up colonies; Siam buffer.
Colonial expansion by 1900s.
Huge plantations.

10. Struggles for Freedom Fight for independence after WWII.
Communism divides Vietnam (1954).
Vietnam War results in Communist unification (1975).
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
Military coup in Myanmar (late- 1980s).

11. Culture Improved education and literacy rates since WWII.
Poor healthcare and sanitation.
Hundreds of languages and dialects spoken.
Most major religions practiced. Buddhism predominant.
Indian and Chinese artistic styles adopted.

12. The Cultural Geography of Southeast Asia
Chapter 30, Section 2: Island Southeast Asia

13. Urbanization: the shift from rural to urban life. Ex: Indonesia.
Important Vocabulary
Urbanization: the shift from rural to urban life. Ex: Indonesia.

14. Map of Islands

15. The People About 370 million people live in the region.
Various ethnic groups.
Valuable spices attracted traders.

16. Density & Distribution
Most people live in coastal urban plains.
High population densities.
Increasing urbanization.
Jakarta: capital of Indonesia.

17. Early History Srivijaya Empire: 600-1300.
Indian and Arab Muslim traders spread Islam throughout the region.

18. Colonization & Freedom
European colonization in early 1900s.
Europeans improved infrastructure and installed large plantations.
Japanese occupation.
Independence after WWII.

19. Culture Improving literacy rates.
Better healthcare on the insular nations.
Many ethnicities and languages.
Majority practice Islam. The Philippines – Roman Catholicism.

20. Culture (Cont’d)
Early Indian and Chinese influences on architecture. Ex: Borobudur.
Mass media, soccer, and badminton are very popular.
Celebrated holidays: Chinese New Year and Prophet Muhammed’s birthday.