Transcript CHAPTER 4
World Geography Today Chapter 29 Mainland Southeast Asia Preview Section 1: Natural Environments Section 2: History and Culture Section 3: The Region Today Chapter Wrap-Up World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 1: Natural Environments Read to Discover • What are mainland Southeast Asia’s major landforms and rivers? • Which climate and vegetation types are found in the region, and what animals live there? • What are some of mainland Southeast Asia’s main resources? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 1: Natural Environments Question What are the three landform regions of mainland Southeast Asia? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 1: Natural Environments Mountains • Located in northern Southeast Asia • Rugged landscapes • Fan out from Himalayas and Plateau of Tibet through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam Plains and Plateaus River Valleys and Deltas • Found in central Southeast Asia • Cover much of Thailand and Cambodia • Irrawaddy, Chao Phraya, Hong (Red), and Mekong Rivers • Fertile alluvial soils, heavy farming • Include Thailand’s Khorat Plateau • Dense populations, most of the region’s cities • Rivers used for local transportation World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 1: Natural Environments Climates, Plants, and Animals • Region has tropical or subtropical climates, greatly influenced by monsoons • Coastal areas—Mainly tropical humid with heavy rainfall • Interior—Tropical wet and dry • North—Humid subtropical • Climates support a wide variety of plants and animals World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 1: Natural Environments Main Resources • Hardwoods—Mahogany, teak, ebony • Minerals—Iron, manganese, tin, tungsten, gems • Energy—Natural gas (Thailand), oil (Myanmar), coal (Vietnam), hydropower potential World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Read to Discover • What are some major events in mainland Southeast Asia’s history? • What are the main cultural features of the region? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Key Historical Events • Important early center of plant domestication • Khmer civilization—arose in A.D. 800s • Thais entered from China; Buddhism spread • 1500s—Europeans arrived • Colonization—British and French set up plantations; Chinese and Indians arrived World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Key Historical Events (continued) • World War II—Japanese occupation • Independence—Burma (Myanmar); French Indochina split up (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) • Vietnam War World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Question What are the cultural elements of each country in Southeast Asia? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Myanmar • Sino-Tibetan language (Burmese) • Many ethnic groups • Mostly Buddhists, some animists Mainland Southeast Asia’s Cultures Thailand Cambodia • Austro-Asiatic language (Khmer) • Mostly Buddhist • Tai language (Thai) • Mostly Buddhist, but Hindu Brahmins lead ceremonies • Curries common in diet Vietnam • Austro-Asiatic language (Vietnamese) • Many ethnic groups • Mix of Confucianism, Buddhism, some animists • Varied food tradition Laos • Tai language (Laotian) • Some animists World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Cultural Features • Each country has one main cultural group, but various minorities. • Three main language families—Sino-Tibetan, Tai, Austro-Asiatic • In mountain areas, minority groups maintain traditions. • Most major cities have large Chinese populations. World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 2: History and Culture Cultural Features (continued) • Buddhism is the dominant faith, but also Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam. • Rice is the staple food; great variety of dishes, many spicy. • Buddhist thought and customs have great influence. World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Read to Discover • What are the economies and politics of mainland Southeast Asia like? • What types of agriculture are practiced in the region? • What issues and challenges do the region’s countries face? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Economic and Political Features • Thailand has a dynamic market economy and constitutional monarchy. • Laos is a very poor communist country that is trying to achieve gradual market reforms. • Cambodia is also very poor, but with an elected government. • Myanmar has resources but a very closed political system and poor economy. • Vietnam has a communist system with some capitalist features, but is still poor. World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Types of Agriculture • Paddy farming—Intensive rice production where water is plentiful • Shifting subsistence farming—In poor-soil areas, farmers shift fields after a few years • Plantations—Large farms growing export crops • Opium growing in rugged northern mountains World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Question What crops are produced in each agricultural system in Southeast Asia? World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Agriculture of Southeast Asia Paddy Agriculture Rice Plantation Agriculture Natural rubber, sugarcane, pineapples Subsistence Agriculture Rice, cassava, yams, bananas, pineapples, beans, sugarcane World Geography Today Chapter 29 Section 3: The Region Today Issues and Challenges • Cambodia is trying to recover from the terrifying period of Khmer Rouge rule. • Myanmar is a harsh military dictatorship with a poor human rights record. • Vietnam and Laos are both poor countries trying to enact economic reforms. • Thailand’s once-booming economy has slowed; economic reforms are underway. World Geography Today Chapter 29 Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas 1. What are the major climates in mainland Southeast Asia, and where are they found? 2. What type of soils have made the region’s river valleys rich farming areas? 3. Which of the region’s countries was never a European colony? What two European countries had colonies in the region? 4. What three major language families are found in the region? Who are some of the primary speakers of the languages in each group? 5. In what areas do most of the region’s people live? What are the large cities of the region like?