Transcript Unit 12: Southeast Asia

Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Malaysia, East Timor, Brunei, Singapore,
and Indonesia.
Climate
Population Density
Human Development Index
(Very High)
Singapore - #26
Brunei - #33
Human Development Index
Malaysia - #61 (High)
Thailand - #103 (Medium)
Human Development Index
Myanmar- #149 (Low)
Vietnam- #128 (Medium)
Migration
 Indian Influence: merchants
& monks attracted by
kingdoms of the Mons &
Khmers – Buddhism remains
strong
 Muslim Influence: traders
from Arabia brought Islam,
created strong ties among
island nations
 Chinese Influence: many
migrated from China, but left
little influence, except in
Vietnam, considered
foreigners barbarians
Europeans Bring Change
 Euros wanted Asian
products (coffee, tea,
raw materials)
 Encouraged expanding
paddies
 Built roads
 Tensions b/w
indigenous ppl and
immigrants
Myanmar (Burma)
 68% Burman, speak
Burmese
 British took control
1800s – 1948
 Ethnic insurgents
(ppl who rebel
against the govt)
 Weak economy b/c
repressive military
govt
 Aung San Suu Kyi
fighting for
democracy
 85% Thai, strong
national ID
 95% Buddhist
Thailand
 Only country not
colonized by Europe,
b/c treaties
 Sided against
Communism
 Diverse economy
 Tourism (Bangkok)
 Transportation hub for
region
 Travel by boat is VERY
common
Vietnam
 Almost all
Vietnamese
 Buddhist
 Part of French
Indochina
 Ho Chi Minh
declared
independence from
France in 1945
 1986- Doi Moi:
economic program
to attract foreign
investors
 Now largest exporter
of rice
Vietnam War
 Ho Chi Minh – N.
Vietnam –
Communist
 Ngo Dinh Diem – S.
Vietnam – Republic
 US wanted S.
Vietnam free of
Communism – US
withdrew in 1973
 1975 Vietnam
reunited under
Communism
By the late 1970’s
most Americans
didn’t want the U.S.
to go to war even to
prevent the spread
of communism.
People working at factories that made weapons like cluster
bombs thought it was wrong and that is was hard to take
pride in a product that left thousands of Vietnamese people
with painful wounds, loss of limbs, or even dead.
Vietnamese Boat People
 Boat People:
someone who
comes to the
United States in a
crudely made boat,
usually illegally, but
may be a refugee
 Many Vietnamese
came to the USA as
boat people after
the Vietnam War
Laos
 Home to the Lao,




Tai, Hmong, Mon,
Yao, and Khmer
ppl
Buddhist
French Indochina
Pulled into
Vietnam war
USA dropped more
bombs on Laos
than on Japan and
Germany
combined during
WWII
Cluster Bombs in
Laos
Dropped during Vietnam War
Mini bombs in a big bombs,
many didn’t blow up when
they hit the ground and are
detonating now
Cambodia
 Khmer ethnic
group
 Buddhist
 Indochina
 Khmer Rouge:
murdered 1-2
mil out of 7mil
b/c not
communist
 Cultural
heterogeneity
 250 languages
 13,660 islands
 Member of
OPEC
 Strong
military govt
 4th largest
population in
the world
Indonesia
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
1. 9.0 earthquake in
Indian Ocean on
Dec. 26, 2004
2. Hit 11 countries
including Africa
3. 50 ft high
4. Killed 150,000
people
5. Tsunami Video
Kombai Tree People
 Live in Sumatra, Jakarta,
Kalimantan, and Papua
New Guinea
 Live in trees to escape
the heat, mosquitoes,
and monsoon floods
 Indonesian government
supports deforestation –
destroying their homes
Cyanide Fishing
 Use cyanide to stun the
fish – began in the 1970s
 Illegal because it kills the
coral
 VERY profitable - $300 a
plate at many restaurants
for the famous Coral
Grouper Fish
 Indonesia is supposed to
regulate this
Philippines
 Cultural heterogeneity
 70 languages (Filipino/
English official)
 7,100 islands
 Long colonial rule by
Spanish (300 yrs)
 Under USA from 18981946
 83% Catholic
 High birthrate
Mt. Pinatubo
 1991 2nd largest
eruption of the 20th
century
 Released millions of
tons of sulfur dioxide
into the atmosphere
 Caused a worldwide
decrease in
temperature for the
next few years
 The US experienced
its coldest winter in
77 years in 1992
Singapore
 Smallest country in SE
Asia – 1 large city on 1
big island & 50 smaller
ones
 Deep, natural,
sheltered harbor
 Important trade route
b/w Europe & E. Asia
 British trading post
 Currently important
international trade &
manufacturing center
Malaysia
 Oil reserves
create revenue
for developing
manufacturing
and agriculture
 Machinery &
transportation
equipment
Brunei
 50% of
wealth comes
from oil &
natural gas
 Free
schooling
 Free medical
care
East Timor
 Democratic Republic
formerly owned by the
Portuguese
 Mostly Catholic
 Slash and burn
technique =
deforestation, 8%
arable land
 Was part of Indonesia
until 1999 when freed
by the United Nations
Chinese Immigrants
 Many Chinese
migrate to Southeast
Asia for better job
opportunities
 Indonesia, Malaysia,
and Singapore have
high numbers of
Chinese immigrants
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations: promotes
growth and peace in the region