Southeast Asia: River Systems, Ancient Kingdoms, Religions, and Languages

Vocabulary terms covering river systems, ancient valley kingdoms, religious traditions, and linguistic diversity in Southeast Asia.

Silt

Fertile soil deposited by rivers near the sea that forms deltas.

Mekong River

The longest river in Southeast Asia at about 2,600 miles; it flows through mainland Southeast Asia, forms part of the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, and empties into the South China Sea in Vietnam.

Chao Phraya River

The most important river in Thailand, used to irrigate rice fields and serve as a major transportation route, with the capital city of Bangkok located along its banks.

Irrawaddy River

A major river supporting rice farming and transportation whose waters can rise more than 30 feet during the rainy season and whose delta continually expands from deposited soil.

Subsistence fishing

The practice of catching just enough fish to live on, which many people in Southeast Asia depend on along the rivers.

Khmer Empire

A major Southeast Asian empire that developed along the Mekong River valley in Cambodia and lasted from the A.D. 800s to the 1430s.

King Suryavarman II

The Khmer ruler who built the temple complex of Angkor Wat in the 1100s.

Angkor Wat

A massive Hindu temple complex dedicated to Vishnu, built in Cambodia in the 1100s and decorated with bas-reliefs showing scenes from Hindu stories.

Bas-reliefs

Sculptural wall carvings used to decorate the walls of Angkor Wat, depicting scenes from Hindu stories.

Dai Viet

A state established in A.D. 939 after the Vietnamese broke away from China; it maintained distinct traditions, such as giving women higher social standing than in China, until reconquered in 1407.

Srivijaya

An empire that arose on the island of Sumatra in the A.D. 600s, becoming an influential center of trade and Buddhist study by controlling the Strait of Malacca until its decline around A.D. 1100.

Strait of Malacca

A critical strategic waterway and trade route connecting South Asia and China, historically controlled by the empire of Srivijaya.

Sailendra dynasty

A dynasty on Java that flourished from about A.D. 780 to 850 and constructed the Borobudur temple complex.

Borobudur

A massive Buddhist temple complex built on Java whose three physical levels symbolize steps toward enlightenment.

Enlightenment

The spiritual goal of Buddhism, which is symbolized by the three architectural levels of the Borobudur temple.

Majapahit

A powerful trade-controlling empire that developed on Java around A.D. 1300 and remained dominant until replaced by other powers by the 1500s.

Animism

The traditional religion of Southeast Asia, dating to prehistoric times, based on the belief that spirits reside in animals, plants, objects, and places to influence human lives.

Rituals

Repeated formal actions performed by animists to please spirits and bring good fortune.

Confucianism

A belief system brought to Vietnam by China following conquest in 111 B.C. that became an important influence on Vietnamese traditions.

Dialect

A regional variation of a main language, often spoken in isolated communities and sometimes existing only in oral form.

Language diffusion

The spread of languages from their original locations, historically driven throughout Southeast Asia by trade and migration.

Malay

A language that historically functioned as a widespread common tongue among traders across Southeast Asia.