Download Southeast Asia

KINGDOMS OF
SOUTHEAST ASIA
GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
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Southeast Asia lies between the Indian and Pacific
Ocean and stretches from Asia almost to Australia.
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Part of the warm humid tropics, where Monsoon
winds bring the region heavy seasonal rains.
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Political power often was whoever controlled the
trade routes and harbors.
INFLUENCE OF INDIA AND CHINA
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Indian merchant ships took advantage of the
monsoon winds, and began to arrive in Southeast
Asia.
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Spread Hindu and Buddhist missionaries. Impacted
culture including religion, languages, and art form.
Chinese ideas and culture spread southward in
the region through migration and trade, exerting
political influence mainland.
Early Kingdoms and Empires
Small but Powerful
• Several early kingdoms, empires arose in Southeast Asia
• Most small, a few quite powerful
• Blended influences from India, China to create own unique
societies, cultures
The Pagan Kingdom
• AD 800s, Burmans established kingdom of Pagan, in what is
now Myanmar
• Located in fertile Irrawaddy River valley, ideal for rice farming
• First king, Anawrahta, ruled 1044 to 1077, conquered
surrounding areas
The Pagan Kingdom
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1057, Anawrahta united much of what is now Myanmar under his
rule
Conquests provided Pagan with access to trading ports
Anawrahta’s kingdom prospered
Anawrahta, successors supported Theravada Buddhism, built
thousands of Buddhist temples
Pagan became center of Buddhist learning
1287, Kublai Khan’s Mongols demanded tribute from Pagan; king
refused and attacked; was crushed
One of king’s own sons killed him, then agreed to pay tribute to the
Mongols
Pagan survived, but lost power
Myanmar people consider Pagan classical age of history, culture
The Khmer Empire
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Khmer Empire was for centuries, main
power of mainland.
 800’s, Khmer had conquered
neighboring kingdoms and created an
empire.
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Improved cultivation of rice became
prosperous
 Built irrigation systems to help grow
crops.
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Built extensive city and temples to a
symbol mountain dedicated to the Hindu
god Vishnu as a well as an observatory.
The Khmer Empire
• Powerful Khmer empire arose southeast of Pagan, in what is now
Cambodia
• Early 800s, Khmer people began to conquer kingdoms around them,
build great empire
• Empire reached height between 850 and 1250, controlled much of
Southeast Asian mainland
• Expensive building projects, invaders contributed to empire’s decline
Indian Influence
• Khmer Empire reflected
strong Indian influence
Rich from Rice
• Built vast temple complexes;
Angkor Wat ruins still stand
• Adopted Hindu, Buddhist
beliefs, ruled as gods
• Empire grew prosperous
from rice farming
• Empire’s capital city, Angkor,
symbolized shape of Hindu
universe, temple at its center
• Built irrigation system
covering 12.5 million acres,
grew several crops per year
Khmer culture is “Indianized”;
influenced mostly by India
- religion: Hinduism; worshiped
Shiva and Vishnu; followed caste
system with Brahmins
- architecture: temples and
monuments were built in honor of
Hindu gods such as Angkor Wat
- art: stone carvings taught by
Indian Brahmans.
- public works: learned how to
make irrigation systems and
waterways from Brahmans
ISLAND TRADING KINGDOMS
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Powerful kingdoms also developed on
Southeast Asia’s islands.
 Sailendra
ruled an agricultural kingdom on the
island of Java, but eventually fell under the
domination of the powerful island empire of
Sriviljava.
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Grew wealthy by taxing the trade that passed
through its waters.
 Srivijavas
established their capital, Palembang.
DAI VIET
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The people of Southeast Asia least influenced
India were the Vietnamese.
 Vietnam
fell under Chinese domination during the
Han Dynasty.
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Vietnam broke away in 900 A.D.
 Became
independent in 939 known as Dai Viet.
 Absorbed Chinese cultural influences including
Buddhism and ideas about government.
DAI VIET
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Preserved a strong spirit of independence and
kept their own cultural identity.
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Though Vietnamese women had more freedom and
influence than their Chinese counterparts.
Rulers of the Ly Dynasty located their capital at
Hanoi, on the Red River Delta.
Strong central government and encouraged agriculture
and trade
 Improved roads and river transportation.
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