Southeast Asia in the Era of the Spice Trade

Ch. 6 Section 3

Emerging Mainland States

• Mainland states are part of a continent, as distinguished from peninsulas or offshore islands.

• Southeast Asia is forming its own ethnic and cultural traits. (communities are forming)

• However, emerging states caused conflicts. (ex. Burma and Thailand)

Mainland States con.

• Vietnam subdued their rival state of Champa then they took the Mekong delta from the Khmer, a monarchy that virtually disappeared by 1800.

Emerging Powers

• Muslims from the west moved into the Melaka region and formed an empire in the 1500s.

• The Melaka empire was powerful b/c of their location in the spice trade.

The Arrival of Europeans

• 1511, the Portuguese seized Melaka and soon controlled the Moluccas, or Spice Islands.

• English and Dutch traders showed in the region and pushed the Portuguese out.

• They were better manned, equipped, and financed than the Portuguese.

• Shortly after the Portuguese were forced out, the Dutch pushed the English out of the region.

European presence in Southeast Asia

• Europeans supported politics that kept them in the region.

• They tried to send missionaries to convert the people to Christianity.

• The inhabitants pushed many Europeans out the region b/c they dislike European imperialistic ways.

Religious and Political Systems

• 4 Styles of Monarchy

• 1. Buddhist

• 2. Javanese

• 3. Islamic

• 4. Vietnamese

1. Buddhist

• Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

• The King served as the link between humans and the universe.

2. Javanese

• India

• Rulers believed to maintain the between the material and spiritual worlds.

3. Islamic Sultans

• Malay Peninsula and Islands of Indonesia.

• Rulers were viewed as humans w/ special qualities.

• They were defenders of the faith & staffed the Bureaucracy – non-elected government officials.

4. Vietnamese

• China and Vietnam

• Emperor ruled by Confucian Principles.