Kaleidoscope of Cultures: Kaleidoscope of Cultures: Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia

COLONIAL SPHERES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Political Map of Southeast Asia

MAINLAND REGIONMAINLAND REGION•VIETNAMVIETNAM – Previously North & – Previously North &

South VietnamSouth Vietnam•CAMBODIACAMBODIA – Previously French – Previously French

Indo-ChinaIndo-China•LAOSLAOS – Previously French Indo- – Previously French Indo-

ChinaChina•THAILAND THAILAND – Previously the – Previously the

Kingdom of SiamKingdom of Siam•MYANMAR MYANMAR – Previously Burma– Previously Burma

Regions of Southeast Asia

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Buddhism Dominates The Cultural Landscape

• A Multicultural and Multiethnic Region

• One Of The Least Urbanized Regions in the World

• Some Countries Have More Than One Core Area (Vietnam, Myanmar)

Mainland Southeast Asia

French Indochina: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

<Rice Farming in Vietnam

Angkor wat in CambodiaReclining Buddha in Laos

Khouangsi Waterfall in Laos

•Leading state of Leading state of the regionthe region

•BangkokBangkok (Venice of Asia)(Venice of Asia)

•ProblemsProblems–Influx of Influx of refugeesrefugees

–DrugsDrugs

Thailand

• Population:Population: 65 Million - Slowest Growth Rate in 65 Million - Slowest Growth Rate in the Regionthe Region

• PER CAPITA GDPPER CAPITA GDP is the same as Vietnam, is the same as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar combinedCambodia, Laos, and Myanmar combined

• Water transportation is vitally importantWater transportation is vitally important

ThailandCountry Per Per

capitacapita

ThailandThailand $8,000$8,000

VietnamVietnam $2,600$2,600

LaosLaos $1,900$1,900

CambodiaCambodia $1,800$1,800

MyanmarMyanmar CountryCountry

•One of world’s poorest countriesOne of world’s poorest countries

•Independence: 1948 (from British)Independence: 1948 (from British)

•Military government (1962)Military government (1962)

•World’s leading producer of World’s leading producer of OPIUMOPIUM PoppiesPoppies

Myanmar (Burma)

•A Sub-Region of A Sub-Region of PENINSULASPENINSULAS and and ISLANDSISLANDS

•SOUTHEAST ASIA’S SOUTHEAST ASIA’S Southern & Eastern PeripherySouthern & Eastern Periphery

•Compried of 5 states: All have colonial historiesCompried of 5 states: All have colonial histories−MALAYSIAMALAYSIA

−INDONESIAINDONESIA

−PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES

−SINGAPORESINGAPORE

−BRUNEIBRUNEI

• FRAGMENTED Political entitiesFRAGMENTED Political entities

• A Multicultural AND Multi-Ethnic RegionA Multicultural AND Multi-Ethnic Region

• ISLAM PrevailsISLAM Prevails

Insular Southeast Asia

• FRAGMENTED STATEFRAGMENTED STATE- Part on Mainland & Part - Part on Mainland & Part on Islandson Islands

• A A Former British ColonyFormer British Colony

• MALAYSIAMALAYSIA Came into being in 1963: Came into being in 1963: The The MALAY PENINSULAMALAY PENINSULA and Parts of and Parts of BORNEOBORNEO

• POPULATIONPOPULATION of 25.3 Million of 25.3 Million

• Islam prevails in Malaysia.Islam prevails in Malaysia.

Malaysia

• A A CITY-STATECITY-STATE

• Seceded from Malaysia in 1965.Seceded from Malaysia in 1965.

• Population: Population: 4.3 Million (4.3 Million (77 % 77 % areare Chinese Chinese, , 14% Malay, 8% Indian)14% Malay, 8% Indian)

• PER CAPITA GDP: $48,900!!! (est. 2007)PER CAPITA GDP: $48,900!!! (est. 2007)

Singapore

• FRAGMENTED STATEFRAGMENTED STATE: more than 13,000 : more than 13,000 islandsislands

• A A Dutch colonial creationDutch colonial creation

• PopulationPopulation: 224 million: 224 million

• Java is the coreJava is the core with 125 million with 125 million

• Largest Largest Muslim populationMuslim population in the world in the world

Indonesia

• An anomaly in southeast Asia - an An anomaly in southeast Asia - an oil oil exporting Islamic Sultanateexporting Islamic Sultanate

• A British protected remnantA British protected remnant– Gained Gained independence in 1984independence in 1984

• 340,000 people340,000 people within 2,225 sq miles within 2,225 sq miles• Oil discovered in 1929, natural gas in Oil discovered in 1929, natural gas in

19651965• PopulationPopulation is is 64% Malay64% Malay, 20% Chinese, 20% Chinese

Brunei

• ARCHIPELAGOARCHIPELAGO of >7,000 islands, most of >7,000 islands, most of which are <1 square mileof which are <1 square mile

• Former Spanish ColonyFormer Spanish Colony for 300+ for 300+ years; years; US possession (1898-1946)US possession (1898-1946)

• 83.9 Million People; 83% Catholic83.9 Million People; 83% Catholic• Agricultural EconomyAgricultural Economy

Philippines