History of Southeast Asia


History of Southeast Asia


a key to global education: Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

Experience the History of Southeast Asia with WisdomMaps: The Future of the Past!


Perspective


The history of Southeast Asia focuses on two distinct sub-regions. There is Mainland Southeast Asia (Indochina), which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. And there is Maritime Southeast Asia, which includes Brunei, the Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, East Malaysia, East Timor, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Homo sapiens appeared in mainland Southeast Asia around 70,000 years ago. Then, they appeared some 50,000 years ago in maritime Southeast Asia. Some 25,000 years ago, East Asian-related groups migrated southwards into maritime Southeast Asia from the mainland. And by 10,000 BCE, they had developed a rich tradition and culture of artifact and tool production.

During the Neolithic era, Austro-asiatic peoples populated Indochina. Sea-going Austronesian immigrants settled in maritime Southeast Asia. The earliest agricultural societies began in the 17th century BCE by cultivating millet and wet rice in the lowlands and river floodplains of Indochina.

The Phung Nguyen culture (of modern northern Vietnam) and the Ban Chiang site (in modern Thailand) developed the use of copper by around 2,000 BCE. Then, the Dong Son culture developed a highly sophisticated bronze industry by 500 BCE. Around the same time, the first agricultural polities emerged in the abundant and fertile lands of the lower Mekong and Red River deltas. These included smaller groups that joined in the rapidly expanding sea trade.

Topography played a large role in the history of Southeast Asia. The early Khmer and Mon civilizations thrived in the challenging terrain where the Irrawaddy, Salween, Chao Phraya, Mekong and Red Rivers steered trade and cultural exchange with the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. But with the exceptions of the massive islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java, maritime Southeast Asia is a patchwork of islands in far-flung archipelagos where growth and prosperity depend upon sea trade.

The Southeast Asian archipelago has long been central to the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea trading routes. From this trade, there arose great wealth and an influx of new thinking that embraced Hindu elements of statecraft, religion, and culture. While Chinese culture greatly influenced Southeast Asia, long periods of Chinese isolationism and China’s tribute demands prevented extensive interaction.

Buddhism began to affect the political structure of Southeast Asia in the 8th to 9th centuries, especially in Indochina. This is where Islamic ideas arrived in the 8th century, and the first Muslim societies emerged by the 13th century. Following this, the era of European colonialism, early modernity, Cold War, and hot war on Indochina unfolded, and revealed the reality of Southeast Asian nationalism. As post-colonialism demands a modern state and a strong sense of national identity, most modern Southeast Asian countries have attained an unprecedented degree of political freedom and self-determination.


sample map


Here’s a look…



… and here’s a look at what you’re missing. 😕 Subscribe now for access to the entire WisdomMaps collection: more than 3,000 mind maps on all the world’s history and cultures. It’s the best education you’ve never had!


We Invite You to Visit Our Companion Site HawaiiInside.Info • Hawaii’s Inside Story!


Index

Southeast Asia Index | Early Southeast Asia: BurmaKhmer EmpireLaosMajapahit EmpireMaritime StatesSiam: PowerVietnam: Power | Colonial Southeast Asia: SocietyPowerEconomyDutch East IndiesMalaccaPhilippinesVietnam | Modern Southeast Asia: PowerPost-War PoliticsCambodiaIndonesia: PowerLaosMalaysia: SocietyPowerMyanmarPhilippines: PowerEconomySingaporeThailandVietnam: Power


history of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia: Index


Early Southeast Asia


history of Early Southeast Asia

Early Southeast Asia: Index

history of Ancient Burma

Burma

history of the Khmer Empire

Khmer Empire

history of Early Laos

Laos

history of the Majapahit Empire

Majapahit Empire

Up to Index

history of Early Southeast Asia | maritime states

Maritime States

history of Early  Siam

Siam

history of Early Southeast Asia | Siam | power

Siam: Power

history of Early Southeast Asia | Vietnam

Vietnam

history of Early Southeast Asia | Vietnam | power

Vietnam: Power


Colonial Southeast Asia


history of colonial Southeast Asia

Colonial Southeast Asia: Index

Up to Index

colonial Southeast Asia | society

Society

colonial Southeast Asia | power

Power

history of Southeast Asia | colonial era | economy

Economy

Dutch East Indies

Dutch East Indies

history of Early Malacca

Malacca

history of colonial Philippines

Philippines

Up to Index


history of Southeast Asia | colonial era | Vietnam

Vietnam


Modern Southeast Asia


history of Modern Southeast Asia

Modern Southeast Asia: Index

history of Modern Southeast Asia | power

Power

history of Modern Southeast Asia | postwar politics

Power: Postwar Politics

Modern Southeast Asia | Cambodia

Cambodia

Modern Southeast Asia | Indonesia

Indonesia

Up to Index

Modern Southeast Asia | Indonesia | power

Indonesia: Power

Modern Southeast Asia | Laos

Laos

history of Modern Malaysia

Malaysia

Modern Southeast Asia | Malaysia | society

Malaysia: Society

history of Modern Southeast Asia | Malaysia | power

Malaysia: Power

history of Modern Myanmar

Myanmar

Up to Index

history of Modern Philippines

Philippines

history of Modern Southeast Asia | Philippines | power

Philippines: Power

history of Modern Southeast Asia | Philippines | economy

Philippines: Economy

history of Singapore

Singapore

history of Modern Thailand

Thailand

history of Modern Vietnam

Vietnam

history of Modern Southeast Asia | Vietnam | power

Vietnam: Power

Up to Index

Samples



%d bloggers like this: