Introduction to Southeast Asia

Editor's Notes

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• #6: Southeast asia is a land that can be best characterized by one word: diversity. From its indigenous history, through its long period of colonization, to its present struggle of self definition, Southeast Asia remains a world of striking differentiation. There are 11 independent countries that divide the landscape of this vast region. \n
• #7: within the entire southeast asia region, it is best to think of two areas: the nations that lie in either ‘insular’ or ‘island southeast asia’ and those that lie in ‘mainland’ or ‘continental’ southeast asia. \n
• #8: within the entire southeast asia region, it is best to think of two areas: the nations that lie in either ‘insular’ or ‘island southeast asia’ and those that lie in ‘mainland’ or ‘continental’ southeast asia. \n
• #9: Now anyone can tell me what countries lie on mainland southeast Asia? \nWhat about island countries? \n
• #10: Located on the western edge of continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Its borders cross with the People's Republic of China (including Tibet), Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. One interesting feature is that the country has vast amounts of forested land, in contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where timber reserves are fast becoming depleted.\n\n
• #11: Located on the western edge of continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Its borders cross with the People's Republic of China (including Tibet), Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. One interesting feature is that the country has vast amounts of forested land, in contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where timber reserves are fast becoming depleted.\n\n
• #12: Located on the western edge of continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Its borders cross with the People's Republic of China (including Tibet), Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. One interesting feature is that the country has vast amounts of forested land, in contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where timber reserves are fast becoming depleted.\n\n
• #13: Located on the western edge of continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Its borders cross with the People's Republic of China (including Tibet), Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. One interesting feature is that the country has vast amounts of forested land, in contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where timber reserves are fast becoming depleted.\n\n
• #14: Centrally located in continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. One interesting feature is that it is the only Southeast Asian country that was not formally colonized by a European country.\n\n
• #15: Centrally located in continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. One interesting feature is that it is the only Southeast Asian country that was not formally colonized by a European country.\n\n
• #16: Centrally located in continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. One interesting feature is that it is the only Southeast Asian country that was not formally colonized by a European country.\n\n
• #17: Centrally located in continental Southeast Asia, but has access to sea trade off of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. One interesting feature is that it is the only Southeast Asian country that was not formally colonized by a European country.\n\n
• #18: Vietnam lies of the eastern edge of continental Southeast Asia. It was a country influenced as much by China as by India, and a country where both France (as a colonial ruler) and the United States (as an anti-communist defender of democratic South Vietnam) fought bitter wars. One interesting fact is that Vietnam is perhaps the only country where the U.S. lost a major war.\n\n
• #19: Vietnam lies of the eastern edge of continental Southeast Asia. It was a country influenced as much by China as by India, and a country where both France (as a colonial ruler) and the United States (as an anti-communist defender of democratic South Vietnam) fought bitter wars. One interesting fact is that Vietnam is perhaps the only country where the U.S. lost a major war.\n\n
• #20: Vietnam lies of the eastern edge of continental Southeast Asia. It was a country influenced as much by China as by India, and a country where both France (as a colonial ruler) and the United States (as an anti-communist defender of democratic South Vietnam) fought bitter wars. One interesting fact is that Vietnam is perhaps the only country where the U.S. lost a major war.\n\n
• #21: Vietnam lies of the eastern edge of continental Southeast Asia. It was a country influenced as much by China as by India, and a country where both France (as a colonial ruler) and the United States (as an anti-communist defender of democratic South Vietnam) fought bitter wars. One interesting fact is that Vietnam is perhaps the only country where the U.S. lost a major war.\n\n
• #22: Vietnam lies of the eastern edge of continental Southeast Asia. It was a country influenced as much by China as by India, and a country where both France (as a colonial ruler) and the United States (as an anti-communist defender of democratic South Vietnam) fought bitter wars. One interesting fact is that Vietnam is perhaps the only country where the U.S. lost a major war.\n\n
• #23: Located inland between the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, Laos is the only landlocked country (with access to the sea) in Southeast Asia. A very mountainous country, the Laotian population numbers less than 5 million. One interesting (but tragic) fact is that Laos is historically the most bombed country in modern history, owing to the Indochina wars of the 1970s.\n\n
• #24: Located inland between the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, Laos is the only landlocked country (with access to the sea) in Southeast Asia. A very mountainous country, the Laotian population numbers less than 5 million. One interesting (but tragic) fact is that Laos is historically the most bombed country in modern history, owing to the Indochina wars of the 1970s.\n\n
• #25: Located inland between the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, Laos is the only landlocked country (with access to the sea) in Southeast Asia. A very mountainous country, the Laotian population numbers less than 5 million. One interesting (but tragic) fact is that Laos is historically the most bombed country in modern history, owing to the Indochina wars of the 1970s.\n\n
• #26: Located inland between the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, Laos is the only landlocked country (with access to the sea) in Southeast Asia. A very mountainous country, the Laotian population numbers less than 5 million. One interesting (but tragic) fact is that Laos is historically the most bombed country in modern history, owing to the Indochina wars of the 1970s.\n\n
• #27: Located south of Thailand and north of Singapore, the country of Malaysia is one of the most ethnically plural in all of Southeast Asia. Slightly more than half of the country is ethnically Malay; the rest are Chinese and Indian populations descended from the years of British colonial rule, when large numbers of immigrants were brought in to work the tin mines, rubber plantations, and other industries. One interesting fact is that Malaysia has made many great strides as a country in reaching "developed country" economic status--more than any other agriculturally-based country in Southeast Asia.\n\n
• #28: Located south of Thailand and north of Singapore, the country of Malaysia is one of the most ethnically plural in all of Southeast Asia. Slightly more than half of the country is ethnically Malay; the rest are Chinese and Indian populations descended from the years of British colonial rule, when large numbers of immigrants were brought in to work the tin mines, rubber plantations, and other industries. One interesting fact is that Malaysia has made many great strides as a country in reaching "developed country" economic status--more than any other agriculturally-based country in Southeast Asia.\n\n
• #29: Located south of Thailand and north of Singapore, the country of Malaysia is one of the most ethnically plural in all of Southeast Asia. Slightly more than half of the country is ethnically Malay; the rest are Chinese and Indian populations descended from the years of British colonial rule, when large numbers of immigrants were brought in to work the tin mines, rubber plantations, and other industries. One interesting fact is that Malaysia has made many great strides as a country in reaching "developed country" economic status--more than any other agriculturally-based country in Southeast Asia.\n\n
• #30: Located south of Thailand and north of Singapore, the country of Malaysia is one of the most ethnically plural in all of Southeast Asia. Slightly more than half of the country is ethnically Malay; the rest are Chinese and Indian populations descended from the years of British colonial rule, when large numbers of immigrants were brought in to work the tin mines, rubber plantations, and other industries. One interesting fact is that Malaysia has made many great strides as a country in reaching "developed country" economic status--more than any other agriculturally-based country in Southeast Asia.\n\n
• #31: Located on the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, Singapore is a city-state that is only about 3/4 of a mile wide. It is one of the most important ports and high-technology, banking areas of Southeast Asia. It also has the highest standard of living in the region, owing to the fact that it is entirely urban. One interesting fact is that this is the only country of Southeast Asia where the Chinese population is dominant numerically.\n\n
• #32: Located on the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, Singapore is a city-state that is only about 3/4 of a mile wide. It is one of the most important ports and high-technology, banking areas of Southeast Asia. It also has the highest standard of living in the region, owing to the fact that it is entirely urban. One interesting fact is that this is the only country of Southeast Asia where the Chinese population is dominant numerically.\n\n
• #33: Located on the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, Singapore is a city-state that is only about 3/4 of a mile wide. It is one of the most important ports and high-technology, banking areas of Southeast Asia. It also has the highest standard of living in the region, owing to the fact that it is entirely urban. One interesting fact is that this is the only country of Southeast Asia where the Chinese population is dominant numerically.\n\n
• #34: Located on the northwest side of the large island of Borneo, the ancient but currently small state of Brunei was once a sultanate in charge of the entire island of Borneo and the Sulu islands of the southern Philippines. One interesting fact is that the standard of living in the current Sultanate of Brunei is among the highest in all of Southeast Asia because of the rich oil deposits; nearly 3/4 of the country's population are employed in the oil industry.\n\n
• #35: Located on the northwest side of the large island of Borneo, the ancient but currently small state of Brunei was once a sultanate in charge of the entire island of Borneo and the Sulu islands of the southern Philippines. One interesting fact is that the standard of living in the current Sultanate of Brunei is among the highest in all of Southeast Asia because of the rich oil deposits; nearly 3/4 of the country's population are employed in the oil industry.\n\n
• #36: Located on the northwest side of the large island of Borneo, the ancient but currently small state of Brunei was once a sultanate in charge of the entire island of Borneo and the Sulu islands of the southern Philippines. One interesting fact is that the standard of living in the current Sultanate of Brunei is among the highest in all of Southeast Asia because of the rich oil deposits; nearly 3/4 of the country's population are employed in the oil industry.\n\n
• #37: A relatively small country surrounding the important lake of Tonle Sap, where the Khmer civilization built a great and early empire owing to the well-watered delta of the Mekong River. Devastated by war and genocide in more recent decades, Cambodia is the ancestral home of one of the largest religious structures ever built - the temples of the empire of Angkor.\n\n
• #38: A relatively small country surrounding the important lake of Tonle Sap, where the Khmer civilization built a great and early empire owing to the well-watered delta of the Mekong River. Devastated by war and genocide in more recent decades, Cambodia is the ancestral home of one of the largest religious structures ever built - the temples of the empire of Angkor.\n\n
• #39: A relatively small country surrounding the important lake of Tonle Sap, where the Khmer civilization built a great and early empire owing to the well-watered delta of the Mekong River. Devastated by war and genocide in more recent decades, Cambodia is the ancestral home of one of the largest religious structures ever built - the temples of the empire of Angkor.\n\n
• #40: A relatively small country surrounding the important lake of Tonle Sap, where the Khmer civilization built a great and early empire owing to the well-watered delta of the Mekong River. Devastated by war and genocide in more recent decades, Cambodia is the ancestral home of one of the largest religious structures ever built - the temples of the empire of Angkor.\n\n
• #41: The Philippines is located off to the east of continental Southeast Asia, and composed of 7,000 islands. The Philippines had limited contact with Hinduism or Indian trade, and no documented trade or exposure to Buddhist countries. Its location made it heavily involved in trade with present day Indonesia and China. The Spanish conquest of the country in the 1500s brought Roman catholicism, and one interesting feature is that the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in all of Asia today. \n\n
• #42: The Philippines is located off to the east of continental Southeast Asia, and composed of 7,000 islands. The Philippines had limited contact with Hinduism or Indian trade, and no documented trade or exposure to Buddhist countries. Its location made it heavily involved in trade with present day Indonesia and China. The Spanish conquest of the country in the 1500s brought Roman catholicism, and one interesting feature is that the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in all of Asia today. \n\n
• #43: The Philippines is located off to the east of continental Southeast Asia, and composed of 7,000 islands. The Philippines had limited contact with Hinduism or Indian trade, and no documented trade or exposure to Buddhist countries. Its location made it heavily involved in trade with present day Indonesia and China. The Spanish conquest of the country in the 1500s brought Roman catholicism, and one interesting feature is that the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in all of Asia today. \n\n
• #44: Located in the southernmost area of Southeast Asia, and north of Australia, Indonesia is the fourth largest country (in terms of population) in the world. It is composed of 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, and Java. The eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago is famous historically for its spices, which made it a major trading entrepot and exporter to India, China, and later the Middle East and eventually Europe. Indonesia is also the world's largest Islamic country in the world (in terms of population) today.\n\n
• #45: Located in the southernmost area of Southeast Asia, and north of Australia, Indonesia is the fourth largest country (in terms of population) in the world. It is composed of 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, and Java. The eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago is famous historically for its spices, which made it a major trading entrepot and exporter to India, China, and later the Middle East and eventually Europe. Indonesia is also the world's largest Islamic country in the world (in terms of population) today.\n\n
• #46: Located in the southernmost area of Southeast Asia, and north of Australia, Indonesia is the fourth largest country (in terms of population) in the world. It is composed of 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, and Java. The eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago is famous historically for its spices, which made it a major trading entrepot and exporter to India, China, and later the Middle East and eventually Europe. Indonesia is also the world's largest Islamic country in the world (in terms of population) today.\n\n
• #47: Located in the southernmost area of Southeast Asia, and north of Australia, Indonesia is the fourth largest country (in terms of population) in the world. It is composed of 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, and Java. The eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago is famous historically for its spices, which made it a major trading entrepot and exporter to India, China, and later the Middle East and eventually Europe. Indonesia is also the world's largest Islamic country in the world (in terms of population) today.\n\n
• #48: Located in the southernmost area of Southeast Asia, and north of Australia, Indonesia is the fourth largest country (in terms of population) in the world. It is composed of 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, and Java. The eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago is famous historically for its spices, which made it a major trading entrepot and exporter to India, China, and later the Middle East and eventually Europe. Indonesia is also the world's largest Islamic country in the world (in terms of population) today.\n\n
• #49: Located on the eastern half of the island of Timor, East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and later on became one of the province of Indonesia. After gaining independence from Indonesia, East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century in 2002. It is one of the two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines\n
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• #51: Let see if you can remember what countries they are. Have them color the map in the class in order to memorize location of each country. spend a few minutes discuss with them which countries they are interested in...have them choose one for themselves. \n
• #52: Why is it important to study Southeast Asia?\nWhat inspire them to enroll in this course?\nWhat are your perspectives toward southeast Asia?\nWhat is your perspectives toward countries of southeast Asia? \n
• #53: have them complete each country profile at home. \n