1. Southeast Asia History

2. Ancient Valley Kingdoms  The Pacific and Indian Oceans are connected by waterways in Southeast Asia.  Centuries before European colonialism, the influence of nearby civilizations caused the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism across Southeast Asia.  At about the same time that Chinese culture first came to Southeast Asia, Indian culture had influences in the region.  The largest and longest lasting mainland empire in ancient Southeast Asia was the Khmer Empire of Cambodia. Centered along the Mekong River valley, the Khmer Empire covered much of Southeast Asia and lasted from the 800s AD to the 1430s.  Angkor Wat, a complex of interconnected buildings, was a massive Hindu temple built by King Suryavarman II in the 1100s. This religious complex was dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu, and served as a tomb for the king.  Control of trade helped certain kingdoms in ancient Southeast Asia gain power.

3. Trade and Colonialism  Because of the region’s location and resources, over the centuries many countries and cultures have traded in and colonized the region, impacting its religion, culture, government, and economy.  Spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper, attracted Europeans to Southeast Asia in the 1500s. Merchants hoped to establish a spice trade monopoly. A monopoly has total control of a market.  Traders from Spain and Portugal came first, but the Netherlands’ Dutch East India Company dominated the region for many years.

4. Indonesia and the Philippines  Indonesia may have been home to the earliest species of humans. Fossils found on the island of Java suggest that humans lived there more than one million years ago.  Indonesia was known to Europeans as the Spice Islands. In the 17 th century, the Netherlands gained power in Indonesia. During WWII, Japan seized Indonesia. Indonesia continued to resist against Japan and finally won its independence in 1949.  When the Spanish seized control of Manila in 1571, they made it the capital of their now colony. The city of Manila has remained the economic, political, and cultural center of the Philippines for centuries.

5. Indonesia and the Philippines  Emilio Aguinaldo wanted to gain independence for the Philippines. He fought alongside the US when it defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War in 1898. After the war, the US kept the islands as its own colony.  In late 1941, during WWII, Japan attacked the US at Pearl Harbor, then attacked the Philippines. The US forces stationed in the islands were outnumbered and forced to leave. Later in the war, the US took back control and remained in power until 1946 when the Philippines gained its independence. Today, it is a stable democracy.

6. Vietnam War  In 1959, Vietnam was divided into two parts: North and South. North Vietnam’s Communist president sent aid to overthrow South Vietnam’s government in hopes to create a single communist country.  The United States supported South Vietnam, bringing in US forces to fight from 1964 to 1973. It got involved because it feared North Vietnam would spread communism in the region. In 1975, South Vietnam surrendered. The reunited country became the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.