Chapter 28 – Southeast Asia
Section Notes
Physical Geography
History and Culture
Mainland Southeast
Asia Today
Island Southeast Asia Today
Close-up
A Bangkok Canal
World Almanac
Per Capita GDP in Island
Southeast Asia and the
United States
Quick Facts
Chapter 28 Visual Summary
Video
Impact of Biodiversity
Maps
Southeast Asia: Political
Southeast Asia: Physical
Southeast Asia: Climate
Indian Ocean Tsunami
Southeast Asia: Colonial Possessions,
1914
Southeast Asia: Land Use and Resources
Southeast Asia
Images
Tsunami Diagram
Angkor Wat
Focus on Culture: Thai Teenage
Buddhist Monks
Ethnic Groups in Indonesia, 2005
 Physical Geography

The Big Idea

Southeast Asia is a tropical region of peninsulas, islands, and
waterways with diverse plants, animals, and resources.

Main Ideas
 Southeast Asia’s physical features include peninsulas,
islands, rivers, and many seas, straits, and gulfs.
 The tropical climate of Southeast Asia supports a wide
range of plants and animals.
 Southeast Asia is rich in natural resources such as wood,
rubber, and fossil fuels.
 Main Idea 1:
Southeast Asia’s physical features include
peninsulas, islands, rivers, and many seas,
straits, and gulfs.
Mainland Southeast Asia

• Two peninsulas that extend from the Asian mainland

• Indochina Peninsula
• Malay Peninsula

Island Southeast Asia

• Two island groups
• Philippines
• Malay Archipelago
• An archipelago—a large group of islands
 Landforms

Mainland Southeast Asia Island Southeast Asia

• Rugged mountains across • More than 20,000 islands
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos,
• New Guinea—Earth’s
and Vietnam
second largest island
• Low plateaus
• Borneo—Earth’s third
• River floodplains largest island
• High mountains on the
larger islands
• Part of the Ring of Fire
– Earthquakes
– Volcanic eruptions
– Tsunamis
 Bodies of Water

• Seas—Andaman Sea, South China Sea,

Philippine Sea, Celebes Sea, and Java Sea

• Gulfs—Gulf of Thailand and Gulf of Tonkin

• Oceans—Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean

• Strait of Malacca

• River—Mekong River
 Tsumani
Background Indian Ocean What it Means
Catastrophe
 A tsunami is a  On December 26,  No one can prevent
series of giant sea 2004, a massive tsunamis.
waves. earthquake launched
 The United Nations
a monster tsunami.
 Tsunamis occur is now working to
when an  The waves wiped out create a global
earthquake, costal communities tsunami warning
volcanic eruption, in a dozen countries system.
or other event and some 300,000
 Individual
causes seawater to people died.
communities are
move in huge  The Indian Ocean also taking actions
waves. did not have a that help mitigate
 Warning systems tsunami warning the danger of these
can help alert system because fierce waves.
people to tsunamis are rare in
tsunamis. that part of the
world.
 Main Idea 2:
The tropical climate of Southeast Asia
supports a wide range of plants and animals.

Tropical savanna climate Humid tropical climate

• Much of the mainland • Islands and Malay

• Temperatures are warm to Peninsula
hot all year-round, but • Hot, muggy, and rainy all
cooler in the north and in year
the mountains. • Typhoons can bring heavy
• Seasonal monsoons bring rains and powerful winds.
heavy rain in the summer. • Supports tropical rain
• Savannas—areas of tall forests
grasses and scattered
trees and shrubs
Lush tropical rain forests are home to a large
number of different plants and animals.

• 40,000 kinds of flowering plants in

Plants Indonesia alone

• Elephants, monkeys, tigers, and many types

of birds
• Some species are not found anywhere else in
Animals the world
– Orangutans
– Komodo dragons

Challenges • Loss of habitat

 Main Idea 3:
Southeast Asia is rich in natural resources
such as wood, rubber, and fossil fuels.

• The hot, wet climate and rich soils make farming highly
productive.
– Major crop - rice
– Other crops - coconuts, coffee, sugarcane, palm oil,
and spices
– Indonesia and Malaysia have large rubber tree
plantations.
• The seas provide fisheries.
• The tropical rain forests provide valuable hardwoods and
medicines.
• Many minerals and fossil fuels
– Minerals - tin and iron ore
– Fossil fuels - natural gas and oil
 History and Culture

The Big Idea

People, ideas, and traditions from China, India, Europe, and
elsewhere have shaped Southeast Asia’s history and
culture.

Main Ideas
 Southeast Asia’s early history includes empires, colonial
rule, and independence.
 The modern history of Southeast Asia involves struggles
with war and communism.
 Southeast Asia’s culture reflects its Chinese, Indian, and
European heritage.
 Main Idea 1:
Southeast Asia’s early history includes
empires, colonial rule, and independence.

• China and India have played a big role in Southeast Asia’s

history.

• Early civilizations introduced new people and ideas to

Southeast Asia.

• European powers started colonizing Southeast Asia in the

1500s.

• People in the region began to fight for independence after

World War II.
 Southeast Asia’s History
Early Civilization Colonial Rule Independence
• The most advanced  Europeans came to  After World War II
early civilization the region. the United States
was the Khmer.  Spain claimed the granted the
 The Khmer built Philippines. Philippines
Angkor Wat—a independence.
 The Dutch gained
huge Hindu temple. control of Indonesia.  Soon others in the
 In the 1200s the region began to
• The British and
Thai settled in the fight for their
French set up
Khmer area. independence.
colonies.
• Buddhism began  By 1970 most of
 The United States
replacing Hinduism Southeast Asia had
took the Philippines.
in the region. thrown off colonial
• Only Thailand was rule.
never colonized.
 Japan occupied most
of Southeast Asia
during World War II.
 Main Idea 2:
The modern history of Southeast Asia
involves struggles with war and communism.

The move toward independence for the countries of Southeast Asia was
not easy, and several countries were torn apart by civil wars.
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Laos

Other countries got involved in these civil wars to either halt or

encourage the spread of communism.

The United States based its decision to get involved on the domino
theory—if one country fell to communism, other countries nearby
would follow like falling dominoes.
 Main Idea 3:
Southeast Asia’s culture reflects its Chinese,
Indian, and European heritage.

People and Religions Customs

Languages  Buddhism—the main  People celebrate
• Many ethnic groups faith on the many religious
mainland, many festivals.
 Most countries have wats
one main ethnic group  Some people
plus many smaller  Christianity—most continue to practice
ethnic groups. people are Roman traditional
Catholic in the customs, such as
 Many different Philippines dance and music.
languages are spoken
in Southeast Asia, • Hinduism—in Indian  Many people wear
including native communities and on traditional clothing,
languages and the island of Bali such as sarongs.
dialects, Chinese, and • Islam—main religion
European languages. in Malaysia, Brunei,
and Indonesia
 Mainland Southeast Asia Today

The Big Idea

Many of the farming countries in Mainland Southeast Asia are
poor but are working to improve their economies.

Main Ideas
 The area today is largely rural and agricultural, but cities
are growing rapidly.
• Myanmar is poor with a harsh military government, while
Thailand is a democracy with a strong economy.
 The countries of Indochina are poor and struggling to
rebuild after years of war.
 Main Idea 1:
The area today is largely rural and
agricultural, but cities are growing rapidly.

• Mainland Southeast Asia includes Myanmar, Thailand,

Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

• War, harsh governments, and other problems have slowed

progress in most of Mainland Southeast Asia.

• The area’s countries have rich resources.

• They are working to improve their futures.

 Mainland Southeast Asia
Rural Life Urban Life

• Mainland Southeast Asia is • Mainland Southeast Asia has

largely rural. several large cities.
• Most people are farmers and • The rapid growth of these
live in small villages. cities has led to
overcrowding and pollution
• The wet, tropical climate problems.
enables farmers to grow two
to three crops each year.
• Most rural people live in the
area’s fertile river valleys and
deltas.
• Some people live in remote
villages in the mountains.
They belong to small ethnic
groups known as hill peoples.
 Main Idea 2:
Myanmar is poor with a harsh military
government, while Thailand is a democracy
with a strong economy.

Myanmar

 Located to the south of China on the Bay of Bengal

 Also known as Burma

Thailand

 Located to the southwest of Malaysia

 Once known as Siam
 Myanmar

• Most of the people are Burmese.

• Buddhism is the main religion.
• Harsh military government that abuses human rights—
rights that all people deserve, such as rights to equality
and justice

• Aung San Suu Kyi continues to lead a movement for more

democracy.

• Poor economy
– Some countries refuse to trade with Myanmar.
– Rich in natural resources—oil, timber, metals, jade, and gems
– Most of its people are poor.
 Thailand

• Capital and largest city is Bangkok, a city famous for its

klongs, or canals.

• Constitutional monarchy, prime minister and elected

legislature hold the real power.

• Good government and rich resources help Thailand’s

economy.
– Industry—computers, textiles, and electronics
– Farming—rice, pineapples, and rubber
– Fishing
– Mining
– Tourism—magnificent Buddhist wats and unspoiled beaches
 Main Idea 3:
The countries of Indochina are poor and
struggling to rebuild after years of war.
Cambodia Laos Vietnam
 Capital is Phnom  Landlocked country  Capital city is Hanoi;
Penh. with rugged largest city is Ho Chi
 Some 20 years of mountains Minh City.
war, terror, and  Poor and  Communist
devastation ended in undeveloped, with government
the early 1990s. few roads, no
 More economic
 Has a stable, elected railroads, and limited
freedom; private
government electricity
businesses have
 Farming has  Communist helped the economy
improved, little government
 Most people farm.
industry  The area’s poorest
 Industry and
 Problem with land economy
services growing
mines  Most people are
 Fishing and mining
subsistence farmers.
important
 Island Southeast Asia Today
The Big Idea
The countries of Island Southeast Asia range from wealthy
and urban to poor and rural.

Main Ideas
• The area today has rich resources and growing cities but
faces challenges.
• Malaysia and its neighbors have strong economies but
differ in many ways.
• Indonesia is big and diverse with a growing economy, and
East Timor is small and poor.
 The Philippines has less ethnic diversity, and its economy
is improving.
 Main Idea 1:
The area today has rich resources and
growing cities but faces challenges.

• Island Southeast Asia is made up of six countries:

Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, East Timor, and
the Philippines.
• Economy
– High potential for wealth and good standards of living
– Rich resources
– Large, skilled labor force
– Growing economies

• Challenges
– Violent ethnic conflicts
– Many people live in poverty.
– Many environmental problems (example—pollution)
Rural and Urban Life of Island Southeast Asia

Rural Life Urban Life

• Many people live in rural • Largest cities (major
areas. capitals) are modern and
crowded.
• Farm or fish
– Rice—main crop
• Common problems include
smog, traffic, and slums.
– Other crops—coffee,
spices, sugarcane, tea, • Many people live in
and tropical fruit kampongs—a village or
– Rubber—Indonesia and
city district with traditional
Malaysia are the world’s houses built on stilts.
largest producer
– Seafood—main source of
protein
• Many rural people are
leaving for the cities.
 Main Idea 2:
Malaysia and its neighbors have strong
economies but differ in many ways.

MALAYSIA
• Consists of two parts: southern end of the Malay Peninsula and
northern Borneo
• Most Malaysians live on the peninsula.
• Capital is Kuala Lumpur.
• Ethnically diverse
– Malays—main ethnic group
– Chinese and other groups also live there.
– Many languages (Bahasa Malay) and religions (Islam and Buddhist)
• Constitutional monarchy—prime minister and elected legislature
hold the real power
• One of the strongest economies in the area
– Well-educated workers
– Rich resources
– Exports natural rubber, palm oil, electronics, oil, and timber
 Singapore and Brunei

Singapore Brunei
 A tiny island at the tip of  Located on the island of
the Malay Peninsula Borneo
 One of the world’s busiest  Governed by a sultan, the
free ports—ports that supreme ruler of a Muslim
place few if any taxes on country
goods
 Wealthy from large oil and
 Industrial center gas deposits
 Modern, wealthy, orderly,
and clean country
 Extremely strict laws
 Government strictly
controls politics and the
media.
 Main Idea 3:
Indonesia is big and diverse with a growing
economy, and East Timor is small and poor.

INDONESIA
• Largest of the island countries and world’s largest archipelago
• Fourth-largest population of any country (largest Muslim
population)
• More than 300 ethnic groups who speak more than 250
languages
• Java is the main island; capital is Jakarta (located on Java).
• Growing economy
– Rich resources including rubber, oil and gas, and timber
– Good farmland for rice and other crops
– Factories make clothing and electronics
• Challenges for Indonesia
– Poor people
– High unemployment
– Ethnic and religious conflicts
 East Timor

• One of the area’s smallest countries

• Located on the island of Timor

• Declared independence from Indonesia in 1999

• One of the region’s poorest countries

• Most people farm; coffee is the major export.

 Main Idea 4:
The Philippines has less ethnic diversity, and
its economy is improving.
Land and People Resources Challenges
 Includes more • Rich in resources • Large gap
than 7,000 • Natural resources— between the rich
islands copper and other and the poor
 Luzon—largest metals, oil, and • Religious
and most tropical wood conflicts
populated island • Farmland—
 Capital is Manila coconuts,
sugarcane, rice,
 Almost all and corn
Filipinos are • Factories—clothing
ethnic Malays. and electronics
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