Southeast and Central Asia - BH

Discuss maritime trade and its effects (2000 years ago)

Brought merchants and religions, as well as crops and technologies to the region

Name some major historical trading cities in SE Asia

Oc Eo (Vietnam), Malacca (Indonesia), Timor-L'este, Goa (India)

Entrepot

a port, city, or other center to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution (see list of historical trading cities)

Khmer (Cambodian) Kingdom of Angkor

Imperial Cambodia

Technologically advanced

Built giant temple "Angkor Wat"

Srivijaya Empire

Buddhist, based in Sumatra (Indonesia)

Sea traders

Angkor Wat Temple

A huge temple built in the 12th century by the Kmher empire in modern-day Cambodia (Hindu AND Buddhist significance)

Srivijaya rule (duration, region)

7th-13th centuries, mostly in Indonesia and surrounding waters

Religion of Srivijaya

Buddhist (influential in the expansion of Buddhism)

Greater Mekong River

12th longest river, name means "Mother of Water"

Many early cities were on Greater Mekong River, also of strategic importance during Vietnam War

flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea

Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia

Historically, site of opium production. Today, tourism is the major industry.

Mekong River Commission (role, member countries)

The international group assigned to monitor and take care of the Greater Mekong River

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam

Theravada Buddhism

Monastic Buddhism

Mercantile Period

1500-1800 CE

Export Period

1800 - 1945

What country in SE Asia was never under colonial rule?

Thailand

List the countries with colonial power in SE Asia

Portugal, Spain, United States, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands

What country dominated the early Mercantile Period?

Portugal

What three locations are associated with Portuguese colonialism?

Goa (India), Malacca (Malaysia) and Timor-Leste (country on the same island as Indonesia -- Timor)

What is the only country in SE Asia to speak Portuguese today?

Timor L'este

When was Portugal most active in SE Asia?

16th century (1500s)

What industry was Portugal involved in in SE Asia?

The spice trade

What and where is Malacca?

Strategic port city in Malaysia, captured by Portugal in 1511.

When did Spain enter SE Asia?

16th Century

What religion is associated with Spanish colonization?

Catholicism

What city is associated with Spanish colonization? Why was it importany?

Manila (Philippines) -- served as a trading hub with Latin America

When did the Netherlands enter SE Asia?

1600s, during Mercantile Period

Dutch East India Company

a trading company established by the Netherlands in 1602, in order to control the Spice Islands

Spice Islands (Moluccas)

A group of islands in present-day Indonesia, known for producing pepper, clove and nutmeg

VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie)

Name in Dutch for Dutch East India company

What country is most associated with Dutch colonization?

Indonesia

How long did the Dutch East India company last?

Until the 1700s

What country did British control in SE Asia start in?

India

What places was Britain most involved in? What are they today?

Malaya (Malay Peninsula, modern day Malaysia), Burma (modern day Malaysia), Borneo (island, today shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei)

British colonial exports

Tin, rubber, tropical hardwoods

What cities were British colonial strongholds? Why

Penang, Singapore, Malacca

Penang

City in Malaysia, colonized late 1700s, became a huge, busy trading port used to control trade between India and China

Singapore

Today, it is the city-state Singapore (highly developed), in 1800s became a British colony, lots of immigration to the island (makes it multicultural)

Malacca (colonial history in order)

Portugal -> Netherlands -> UK Colony

When did the UK control Malacca?

End of WWII to 1957 technically, but controlled it legitimately from 1820s

When did France enter SE Asia?

1700s

What two colonial countries were competing for trade? What country did they want to control trade with?

France and Britain, for trade with China

Define French Indochina. When was the region called this?

Made up of modern day Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia, 1890s to 1950s

French cultural impacts in Vietnam

New writing system, religious influence, cultural practices for landowners and upper class citizens

When did the USA enter SE Asia? Why?

1898, after winning the Spanish American War

What country in SE Asia did the US control?

the Philippines

When did the US lose control of the Philippines? To who?

WWII: Lost to Imperial Japan

end of WWII: granted Philippines independences

Why were the Philippines so important militarily to the US?

Closer to Pacific theater in WWII, today, it is a strategic point to watch China. Naval importance due to South China Sea.

Why was Thailand never colonized?

It acted as a buffer between British Burma and French Indochina. The country was flexible, adaptable and accommodating and aggressively modernized. They also gave up territory to neighboring colonial states (appeasement).

What was Thailand called at this time? When did the name change?

Siam, 1939

What land-use changes occurred in SE Asia during colonization? Why?

Change from subsistence farming to export farming "monoculture"

Clear cutting rainforests for farming and mining

Introduction of massive rice paddies

Why? Colonial demand for profit.

What was an example of a pre-colonial system that was less destructive environmentally?

Angkor-based reservoir and canal system for agriculture in Khmer Empire

What caused the end of the Khmer Empire?

MAYBE a long drought, which caused people to lose faith in the king's ability to feed everyone, and possibly rebellion

When and how did European colonization end in SE Asia?

During WWII, Japan gained power in the region

From the 1950s through the 1980s, countries gained or were given independence

When did Burma gain independence? From who?

1943, from Japan, who occupied it during WWII, then later officially from the UK in 1948

When did the Philippines gain independence? From who?

1946, from the US

When did gain independence? From who?

When did Singapore become independent? From who?

1965, from the "Federation of Malaysia"

When did Indonesia gain independence? From who? How?

1949, from the Netherlands (after a 4 year violent struggle)

How has agriculture in SE Asia changed since the colonial period?

It has decreased a little bit but still employs >40% of population, it is still dominated by rice, export crops still exist, plantations managed by multinational corporations are getting bigger (pineapples, oil palm)

Green Revolution

A movement in agriculture to create higher yielding seeds, which produce more food, but require more fertilizer and water

Why did SE Asian countries attempt to increase manufacturing in the postcolonial period?

To diversify their economies and be more self sufficient

Define "tariffs." What SE Asian country are they associated with?

Tax placed on imported goods, Malaysia

What happened economically in 1980s SE Asia?

There was a shift to export-oriented production.

Think: "Made in Cambodia"

Skilled work for low wages, lots of clothing produced in this area, also toys, soccer balls, car parts, electronics

What is foreign direct investment?

Money or training put in by other countries to allow them to be able to profit from economic activities in the region

Ex: Intel, Hitachi (American, Japanese) have brought factories to Malaysia

What is special about Singapore?

It is developed, wealthy, has a high standard of living

Excellent port and international airport

What did the government of Singapore do that contributed to this status?

Invested in education in fields like engineering and computing to prepare workers for high-skilled fields (precision engineering, medical technology, computers)

Also state owned companies, state funded technological business parks

"Asian Tigers"

countries that have built large globally integrated economies

Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and *Singapore*

Little Tigers

Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia

Newly industrializing economies (as opposed to "underdeveloped")

Receive foreign investment, aiming for a similar path to Singapore's experiences

Remittances

When people working overseas send money to their families in their home country

Closely associated with the Philippines

Grows the middle class in these countries

What has happened to poverty rates in SE Asia lately? Why?

They have decreased substantially due to development, remittances

Crony capitalism

a type of corruption in which politicians, bankers, and entrepreneurs, sometimes members of the same family, have close personal as well as business relationships'

Ex: a member of government giving a contract for work to a person they are friends with even if that person was not the best person for the job

Kleptocracy

"Rule by theft," where those in power drain the state of assets and resources for their private gain

Indochina Wars (Vietnam Wars)

Fighting between Ho Chi Minh (a communist, took power in the North) and France colonists, that lead to a partitioning of Vietnam and eventually US involvement

Viet Cong

Communist rebels in South Vietnam

What is the difference between Ho Chi Minh/the Viet Cong?

Ho Chi Minh: more structured, in North Vietnam

Viet Cong: less structured, in the South, associated with "guerilla war"

Domino theory

The US concern that one country or region becoming communist would lead to the spread of communism

Think about: Vietnam/US involvement, China/Taiwan

Agent Orange

a toxic leaf-killing chemical sprayed by U.S. planes to make it easier to see Viet Cong

extremely poisonous, caused disfigurement and birth defects

"Boat people"

Vietnamese refugees who became the Vietnamese diaspora

Environmental and health impacts of Vietnam War

Agent Orange = destroyed forest, killed animals, made agriculture almost impossible, disfigured people, caused birth defects

Destruction of forest led to increase in malaria (mosquito borne illness)

US sanctions made it difficult to import medications

Impact of Indochina Wars on Hmong People (+ why)

Hmong people (an ethnic minority group from Laos, Thailand, Burma) fought for US, were targeted by new government after the war, became refugees with large population in US

Khmer Rouge

A group of Communist rebels who seized power in Cambodia in 1975, who defeated American influence in Cambodia

Very violent and cruel regime, including mass assassinations and detention

Pol Pot

Leader of Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian genocide

Suppressed education, attacked the rich and educated, mass-murdered Cambodians

"Killing fields"

Farmland in Cambodia where Khmer Rouge performed mass executions -- 1/4 of Cambodian population died here (especially well educated and elite) and due to famines, etc

What ended the Khmer Rouge?

Vietnam invaded in 1979 and put a new government in power

Postcolonial conflict: Burma (Myanmar)

Since 1948, Burmese people have rebelled against their government many times due to repression and military rule

These protests have led to further crackdowns and more military rule -- more authoritarian

Aung San Suu Kyi

(Woman) Leader of the opposition to the military dictatorship in Myanmar. Under house arrest since 1989. Controversial globally.

Postcolonial conflict: Indonesia

in 1965, unhappiness with the government led to minor rebellions

leader "Sukarno" responded violently, killing 50,000 people

Postcolonial conflict: Thailand (except Thailand was never colonized)

Over 20 military coups since 1934

Currently held by a military government who is unpopular and repressive

They have a conscription army -- young men have to serve for 2 years at age 21 if they pull a red card in a lottery system

Postcolonial conflict: the Philippines

conflict between Muslims and Catholics, violent anti-drug campaigns. No coups or government changes.

Postcolonial conflict: Timor Leste

Portugese colony

then Indonesia occupied in 1976

then there was a 20 year civil war, killing 200,000 people

independence was granted after a referendum (vote)

today the country is highly developed but held back by the violence that happened from 1976-1996

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- a geopolitical and economic union (kind of like the EU)

Buddhism in SE Asia

"Theravada" Buddhism

Big in Thailand, Cambodia where it is associated with the royal family (who have a godlike status)

"Mahayana" Buddhism

Big in Vietnam

Islam in SE Asia

Indonesia is the largest Muslim country by population

Some Islam in Philippines

Religious extremism: oppression of women, terrorism, especially in Indonesia

Hinduism in SE Asia

Hinduism is common in Bali, as opposed to the rest of Indonesia which is Muslim

Christianity in SE Asia

Introduced by colonial powers Spain, France, Portugal

Mostly Catholic, small minority practice with a large cultural impact

Folk religion in SE Asia

"Animism," religion that focuses on souls and spirits, no central God, very personal, includes ancestor worship

Matrilocality

Married couples move to the wife's family home

Patrilocality

Married couples move to the husband's family home

Patriarchal cultural factors

Education is more accessible to boys than girls, sons are more valued than daughters, women work for less money, social expectation to be "docile"

Nuclear family

A household with only 2 generations (parents and children) (increasing in popularity)