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SOUTHEAST ASIA Overview

E 11 COUNTRIES that make up The European colonial system collapsed in outheast Asia straddle the . the early and mid-1900s. The countries of hey stretch from China to , slowly gained their indepen­ with a chunk of mainland and a generous dence. However, the European legacy continues sprinkling of islands. to affect them. In Myanmar (Burma), the The mainland of Southeast Asia is a long British tried to combine dozens of ethnic peninsula, jutting out from the Asian conti­ groups into one political unit. Since the coun­ nent. This mainland is broken into separate try gained independence, these different groups areas by mountains that run from north to have fought for their own governments. south. Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were French The and mountains are physical barri­ colonies. As the rest of the moved away ers in the region, but people have migrated from colonial rule, the French tried to stay in here from other parts of Asia. Southeast Asia power. This led to a series of long and bloody has also been influenced by other . The wars. A peace conference was held to try to end first settlers here came from central Asia and the fighting. Vietnam was divided into two southern China. India also had a great influ­ parts. North Vietnam became a communist ence on the culture of the region. As Indian state, while South Vietnam was a pro-Western merchants traded with the kingdoms of state. When communists in both North and Southeast Asia, they brought with them South Vietnam wanted to reunite the two Hinduism and Buddhism. These religions countries, another war began. The United were combined with local religious beliefs. States entered this war. It hoped to keep com­ Buddhism, in particular, remains an important munist North Vietnam from gaining control of factor in Southeast Asian life. South Vietnam. Traders from Arabia and India also brought After years of fighting, the United States Islam to Southeast Asia around the 1300s. finally pulled out of Vietnam. South Vietnam People in the islands that make up was united with North Vietnam as a commu­ and Malaysia were particularly drawn to Islam. nist state. During the years of fighting, Laos While mainland Southeast Asia is largely and Cambodia were also drawn into the war. Buddhist, Indonesia is largely Muslim. In Eventually, these countries also became com­ both areas, traditional local religions are also munist. Tod.ay, the years of war still affect the practiced. region, but much of the area is moving toward Then, in the 1500s, another group of traders recovery. arrived in Southeast Asia. They came from Think About It . Earlier traders had been content to buy and sell from the people of the region. The The only country in Southeast Asia that Europeans wanted more. They wanted to con­ never came under colonial control was trol the products that came from Southeast Thailand. The Thai sometimes compare them­ Asia, particularly spices, coffee, and tea. By the selves to the bamboo, a flexible plant that 1800s, most of the area had fallen under bends with the wind, instead of breaking. How European rule. do you think being flexible might have kept Thailand free of European domination?

© 1987, 1994, 2001 J. Weston Walch, Publisher 154 Geographic Literacy @ Name: Date:

SOUTHEAST ASIA Word List

Political features CouNTRIES Thailand Celebes Brunei Vietnam Cambodia CAPITALS Indonesia Bandar Seri Begawan Main Areas: Bangkok Irian Jaya Hanoi Java Jakarta Luzon Strait Kalimantan (Borneo) Kuala Lumpur (Celebes) Manila Mekong Delta Sumatra Phnom Penh Molucca Sea Timor Rangoon Mouths of the Irrawaddy Laos Singapore Malaysia Vientiane Main Areas: Physical features Malaya RIVERS Sabah Irrawaddy River Sarawak Mekong River Myanmar (Burma) Salween River Philippines OTHER WATER BODIES LAND FEATURES Main Islands: Annamese Mts. Luzon Mindanao

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