Southeast Asia Reading

What are the two main geographical divisions of Southeast Asia?

Mainland Southeast Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia.

Which modern countries are part of Mainland Southeast Asia?

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

What major commercial network influenced Southeast Asia between 600 and 1500?

The Indian Ocean commercial network.

Which three major religious traditions were introduced to Southeast Asia?

Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.

How did Vietnam's culture borrow from China?

Vietnam adopted Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, administrative techniques, and artistic styles.

What role did Vietnam play in the Chinese tribute system?

Vietnam participated as a vassal state while maintaining its political independence.

What was the significance of the civil service examination system in Vietnam?

It undermined the established aristocracy and created a merit-based scholar-gentry class.

What unique cultural practices persisted in Vietnam despite Chinese influence?

A distinctive language, cockfighting, chewing betel nuts, and greater roles for women.

Who led an anti-Chinese resistance movement in the third century CE?

Lady Triêu.

What was the impact of Chinese culture on Vietnamese governance?

Vietnamese rulers styled themselves as emperors and claimed the Mandate of Heaven.

What was the Malay kingdom of Srivijaya known for?

Dominating the choke point of Indian Ocean trade from 670 to 1025.

What resources did Srivijaya use to attract supporters?

Gold, spices, and taxes levied on passing ships.

What was the capital city of Srivijaya known for?

Palembang was a cosmopolitan place with diverse languages spoken.

What architectural structure in Java represents a blend of Buddhism and local culture?

Borobudur.

What cultural influences were prominent in Maritime Southeast Asia?

Indian cultural influences, particularly Hindu and Buddhist.

Which kingdom was a significant Hindu-Javanese state in the mid-1300s?

The kingdom of Madjapahit.

What is Angkor Wat known for?

It is the largest religious structure of its time, expressing a Hindu understanding of the cosmos.

How did Vietnamese women maintain their social roles despite Confucianism?

They retained greater roles in social and economic life, with customs allowing them to choose husbands.

What was the significance of the shadow puppet performances in Indonesia?

They were based on Hindu epics and mixed with local material.

What did the Vietnamese elite view their country as?

A southern extension of a universal civilization.

What was the role of Indian advisers in the Srivijayan monarchy?

They served as advisers, clerks, and officials, helping to implement Indian political ideas.

What was a key feature of the political structure in Srivijaya?

The use of Sanskrit titles for subordinates.

What was the cultural significance of the Red River valley in Vietnam?

It was fully incorporated into the Chinese state for over a thousand years.

What did the Vietnamese elite commit to despite Chinese influence?

They remained committed to Chinese culture while maintaining distinct Vietnamese traditions.

What was the relationship between commerce and state building in Srivijaya?

Commerce provided resources that supported state building and military security.

What did the construction of Angkor Wat express in terms of religious beliefs?

It expressed a Hindu understanding of the cosmos centered on a mythical Mount Meru.

What was the unique aspect of Vietnamese popular religion?

It included female nature deities and a 'female Buddha' alongside Confucian ideas.

What did the Vietnamese elite's commitment to Chinese culture reflect?

A view of their country as part of a larger civilization rather than a separate nation.