Section 1: Natural Environments

Section 2: History and Culture

Section 3: The Region Today

CHAPTER 29

Mainland Southeast Asia

SECTION 1

Natural Environments

Question:What are the three landform regions of mainland Southeast Asia?

SECTION 1

Natural Environments

Mountains

• located in northern Southeast Asia

• rugged landscapes• fan out from

Himalayas and Plateau of Tibet through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

Plains and plateaus

• found in central Southeast Asia

• cover much of Thailand and Cambodia

• includes Thailand’s Khorat Plateau

River valleys and deltas

• Irrawaddy, Choa Phraya, Hong (Red), and Mekong Rivers

• fertile alluvial soils, heavy farming

• dense populations, most of the region’s cities

• rivers used for local transportation

SECTION 2

History and Culture

Question:What are the cultural elements of each country in Southeast Asia?

SECTION 2

History and Culture

Mainland Southeast Asia’s Cultures

• Tai language (Thai)• mostly Buddhist, but

Hindu Brahmins lead ceremonies

• curries common in diet

Thailand• Austro-Asiatic

language (Khmer)• mostly Buddhist

Cambodia• Tai language

(Laotian)• some animists

Laos

• Sino-Tibetan language (Burmese)

• many ethnic groups• mostly Buddhists,

some animists

Myanmar• Austro-Asiatic language

(Vietnamese)• many ethnic groups• mix of Confucianism,

Buddhism, some animists• varied food tradition

Vietnam

SECTION 3

The Region Today

Question:What crops are produced in each agricultural system in Southeast Asia?

SECTION 3

The Region Today

Economic Development of West and Central Africa

Paddy agriculture

rice

Plantation agriculture

natural rubbersugarcanepineapples

Subsistence agriculture

rice, cassava, yams, bananas,

pineapples, beans,

sugarcane

1. What are the major climates in mainland Southeast Asia, and where are they found?

2. What types of soils have made the region’s river valleys rich farming areas?

3. Which of the region’s countries was never a European colony? What two European countries had colonies in the region?

4. What three major language families are found in the region? Who are some of the primary speakers of the languages in each group?

5. In what areas do most of the region’s people live? What are the large cities of the region like?

1. What are the major climates in mainland Southeast Asia, and where are they found?

2. What types of soils have made the region’s river valleys rich farming areas?

3. Which of the region’s countries was never a European colony? What two European countries had colonies in the region?

4. What three major language families are found in the region? Who are some of the primary speakers of the languages in each group?

5. In what areas do most of the region’s people live? What are the large cities of the region like?

CHAPTER 29

Chapter Wrap-Up