People of SE Asia

Chapter 25

Lesson One

SE AsiaLand of Many Different People

• Malayans– Spread across region 1000s years ago

– Developed own language, beliefs, and ways of life

• Outside Influences– Armies, merchants, and missionaries came to region

– Indians, Muslims from SW Asia, Chinese, and Europeans came to region

• Brought their language, ways of life, and religions

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith

• Indians – Merchants brought Sanskrit (language) to region

– Monks brought Hinduism and Buddhism to region

• Buddhism, mixed with Hindu ideas, had widespread influence in mainland SE Asia

• Daily life people mainland SE Asia shaped by Buddhist values, art, and architecture

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith

• Muslims– Merchants brought Arabic (language) to

region

– Merchants introduced Islam to SE Asia

• Islam took root in Malaysia and Indonesia

• Indonesia has world’s largest Muslim population

SE Asia Melting Pot of World Faith

• Europeans– Brought Latin (language) to region– Missionaries brought Christianity to region

• Chinese– Confucian ideas influenced parts of SE Asia,

especially Vietnam• Vietnam adopted Chinese ideas about government

and styles of art

Western Powers and their Legacies

• European explorers reached SE Asia in 1500s– Spain, then United States controlled Philippines

– French controlled Indochina• Today’s Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam

– Dutch controlled East Indies • Today’s Indonesia

– British controlled Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore

Western Legacies

• Legacies– U.S. started public education in Philippines

– English language is official language in Philippines

– U.S. improved medical care

– West introduced plantations system which important part of economy

Imperialism and its effect on SE Asia’s Economy

• Colonial powers set up plantations– Large farms specializing in one or two crops

• Exported sugar, coffee, rubber, tea, palm oil, coconut oil

• Local farmers grew less food crops and more export crops to pay taxes– Led to food shortages

WWII and Independence in SE Asia

• Japan’s armed forces swept through region quickly and defeated U.S. and European military forces

– Japan used victory take control of region’s raw materials

– Japanese led government replaced Western colonialism

• Established military governments

WWII and Independence in SE Asia-continued

• SE Asian independence leaders organized against Japanese

– Resisted any efforts to reestablish foreign rule

• Filipinos united in opposition against Spanish, and American rule

– Gained independence after WWII