History and Government

Early Empires

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The empires of Southeast Asia developed around strategic ports about 2,000 years ago.

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By the time of the Renaissance, the islands of Java and Sumatra had already enjoyed a 1,000 year heritage of advanced civilization spanning two major empires. During the 7th-14th centuries, the Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya flourished on Sumatra.

• Beginning in 1602, the Dutch slowly established themselves as rulers of present-day Indonesia, exploiting the weakness of the small kingdoms.

• The only exception was East Timor, which remained under Portugal until 1975. During 300 years of Dutch rule, the Dutch developed the Netherlands East Indies into one of the world's richest colonial possessions.

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During the first decade of the 20th century, an Indonesian independence movement began and expanded rapidly, particularly between the two World Wars. Its leaders came from a small group of young professionals and students, some of whom had been educated in the Netherlands.

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The Japanese occupied Indonesia for 3 years during World War II. On August 17, 1945, 3 days after the Japanese surrender to the Allies a small group of Indonesians proclaimed independence and established the Republic of Indonesia

Western Influences

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European countries and the United States wanted influence in the region in order to gain access to its natural resources.

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Western influences lasted until the 1900s.

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Portugal

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Spain

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Great Britain France United Empire

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Netherlands

Great Britain’s Influence

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By the mid 1900s, Great Britain had established its influence in the following Southeast Asian countries:

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Brunei

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Myanmar

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Malaysia

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Singapore

French Influence

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France ruled present day Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

Dutch and Spanish Influence

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The Netherlands colonized the islands of Indonesia and Spain ruled the Philippines until they were later acquired by the United States after the Spanish American War

Changes and Modernization

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Westerners expanded tin mining and oil drilling. They also took over the farmland in order to establish large rice, coffee and rubber plantations.

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They used these resources to boost their own economies not the economies of Southeast Asia.

Independence and Conflict

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During WWII, Japan forced the Western nations out of Southeast Asia as they attempted to establish a Japanese empire.

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After Japan’s defeat in 1945, western powers tried to regain control of the area but the Southeast Asians demanded their freedom.

Governments Today

Three types of governments are represented in Southeast Asia: Republics- Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines Constitutional Monarchies: Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand\ Socialist Republics: Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar

Did You Know

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Bangkok, the capital of Thailand has over 300 Buddhist Temples

More Facts

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Cambodia has faced almost constant warfare since 1960.

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Thailand is the only nation in Southeast Asia that has never been ruled by a Western power.

Physical Geography

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Vietnam is composed of two river deltas. The Mekong River delta is at the southern end of the country while the Hong (Red) River delta is at the Northern end.

Singapore

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Singapore consists of one main island and more than 50 offshore inlets. Most of Singapore lies near sea level.

Malaysia

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The country of Malaysia lies partly on the Malay Peninsula and partly on the island of Borneo.

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Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The Mekong River flows through Laos providing the people with their main means of transportation

Laos

Indonesia

• Indonesia consists of more than 13,600 islands. They lie along the equator and stretch for more than 3,000 miles

Philippines

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The Philippines consists of more than 7,000 islands. The 11 largest islands make up 95% of the country.

Population Patterns

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Most people in Cambodia and Laos live along the Mekong River

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About 65% of Brunei’s people live in urban areas.

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About 4/5ths of Thailand’s population live in rural areas.

More Population Facts

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Indonesia’s population is around 190 million making it the 4 th most populated country in the world after China, India and the United States.

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Only about 900 of the 7,000 Philippine islands are inhabited

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About half of the Philippine population of 65 million live on the island of Luzon.

Natural Resources

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Brunei: natural gas, petroleum

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Myanmar: 80% of the worlds teakwood, gemstones

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Thailand: rubber and tin, gemstones

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Cambodia: rice, gemstones

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Singapore: tourism

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Malaysia: rubber and palm oil