1. Mainland Southeast Asia Chapter 29 Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand

2. Landforms and River On the Malay Peninsula North – Himalaya Mtns and Plateau of Tibet Central and South – plains and low plateaus Rivers – Irrawaddy – Chao Phraya – Mekong – Hong (Red) Lake – Tonle Sap

3. Climates, Plants, and Animals All Mainland SE Asia is tropical or subtropical Monsoons – Summer brings heavy rainfall (flooding) – Winter brings dry winds (fire) Typhoons Rainforests support arboreal (tree dwelling) animals

4. Natural Resources Valuable hardwoods – Mahogany, teak, ebony Rapid deforestation Iron, Manganese, Tin, Tungsten, Sapphires, Rubies

5. History Traded with China and India Khmer empire ruled Cambodia (800’s AD) – Capital was Angkor Wat – Hindu Thai’s migrated from China in 1200’s – Brought Buddhism 1500’s Burma colonized by Great Britain 1500’s Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam colonized by France Burma gained independence in 1989 Vietnam won independence after WWII – Domino Theory caused US to intervene (Watch last ½ of Crash Course: Cold War in Asia)

6. Culture 3 main language families – Sino-Tibetan – Thai & Laotian – Austro-Asiatic (Vietnamese) Religion – Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism – Confucian & Buddhism – Christianity & Islam minority – Animists in the highlands Food – Rice – Sauces with curries

7. Region Today Economic & political development – Myanmar is poor b/c of isolation – Laos & Vietnam are communist – Thailand has a constitutional monarchy and is an “Asian Tiger” – All are members of ASEAN (1967) Promotes economic development Now is a free trade region – Bangkok, Thailand is largest city Has 400 wats) Buddhist temples

8. Agriculture Some places have 3 rice harvests a year Floating markets happen on klongs (canals) Also grow – Sugarcane – Pineapples – Opium

9. Today Myanmar – military government arrests opponents Thailand – growing economy due to Japanese investment