Southeast Asia 7th Grade Social Studies

Some countries of mainland Southeast

Asia have enjoyed economic growth by

developing industries - specifically mineral

resources.

Countries in the Region: • Myanmar (Burma) • Thailand • Malaysia • Singapore • Laos & Cambodia • Vietnam

Climate: the warm waters in

this region help form strong,

hurricane-like storms called

Typhoons - which case a great amount

of flooding and damage due to

winds (150+ mph)

MyanmarAbout 2/3 of its people farm - main crop is rice, also sugarcane, beans and peanuts. Inle Lake - they’ve started cultivating tomatoes, gourds, and cucumbers using floating gardens (they anchor grasses into lakes using bamboo and grow crops that way)

most people will live crowded together in the river valleys and basins of the Irrawaddy River. Villagers will travel from place to place by boat, private cars don’t really exist.

Myanmarmajor religion: Buddhism

Shwedagon Pagoda - 325 feet tall, oldest most sacred, 2,600 years old making it the oldest in the world. People volunteer to sweep the floors each night to gain positive Karma.

7 buddha are there - one for each day of the week

MyanmarMyanmar is a socialist country in which the government runs the economy - no criticism of the government is allowed.

Finally allowed foreigners into the country in 2011.

provides most of the world’s teakwood - because it is so strong and durable (when it is dried, it actually becomes waterproof)

Exports: sapphires & rubies, Tea, and rice.

capital is Bangkok

only SE Asian country that has NOT been a European colony.

benefits from tourism

exporter of tin, tungsten (used to make lightbulbs and rockets), precious gems (sapphires & rubies) and rubber

major religion: Buddhism

Thailand

ThailandThreats to this region:

in less than 40 years, Thailand has lost nearly ½ its rain forests (deforestation)

As a result, when heavy rains hit this country, landslides will bury villages in mud and villagers will lose their lives.

Malaysia

has long exported raw materials

has recently exported textiles, electronic goods and cars

most people practice Islam

Malaysia is a Parliamentary Democracy

Kuala Lumpur is an important center of trade and industry for SE Asia

Malaysia• Batu Caves is located in

Kuala Lumpur

• Hindu Temple - attracts worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam

• 272 steps (are VERY steep)

Expedia - explore Batu Caves

Singapore

one of the world’s most productive economies and one of the world’s busiest harbors - it’s a free port ~ which means goods can be unloaded, stored, and shipped again without payment of imports taxes

so if it’s a free port, how does it benefit Singapore’s

economy?

Singaporethe region’s smallest country in land area, has the greatest population density ~ 18,000 people per square mile.

Singapore has a Parliamentary Democracy

seceded from Malaysia 1965

very strict laws

Tiger Head Fountain

Laos The Mekong River runs through Laos and Cambodia

Economically one of the poorest countries

Laos

• Communist government discourages religion

• poorest of region

• no healthcare, schools, police

• little infrastructure or industry

Cambodia• Khmer Rouge -

Communist revolutionaries

• drove people from urban(city) to (country) rural areas

• 1993 unsponsored elections

• stable (kind of?)

• very poor

Cambodia The people follow Buddhist faith and grow rice

Angkor Wat - Buddhist Temple

Vietnam•Very long and narrow

•It’s considered an Elongated State - other examples are: Chile, Laos

•Difficult for transportation - they have one railway system that connects the North and the South

•difficult to protect

Vietnamhas been perceived as a struggling country, the upcoming generation isn’t believing in that and are trying to change it.

used to be called Saigon

largest city is Ho Chi Minh City

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi

Communist government has held back the economy and the country remains very poor.

VietnamMekong River (S. Vietnam) provide fertile growing soil and have endless rice fields growing. (farmers have machinery to help)

Mekong Delta flows 4,500Km and through 6 countries before getting to the Sea

Rice is the most important crop in this country ~ also an important export

Fishing is a major economic factor especially in South Vietnam.

Vietnammajor religion: Buddhism

they also believe in Confucius - started in China but it’s the belief of: the necessity of correct behavior and the importance of loyalty and obedience (as in laws)

Believe in symbols ~ they believe they are holy and are a symbol of the Vietnamese soul ~ extremely important in their culture.

Dragons represent strength & power (Dragon Bridge)Phoenix is a symbol of beauty and rebirthTurtles represent long life (Cu Rua (2016)- plasticized)

all these come together to represent the ideal Vietnamese character

VietnamLife in Vietnam - Short Film (raft villages)

• Ha Long Bay - contains over 2,000 limestone mountains; people live on floating villages. Make their living by fishing and harvesting oysters.

• North and South Vietnam have two very different climate ~ South Vietnam is more tropical and allows for longer rice growing

• Vietnam War - US fought starting in 1963 and the US pulled out (left) in 1973

The End