1. Southeast Asia

2. Khmer Empire An empire that included much of present-day Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and part of Laos. At its peak from A.D. 800 - 1434.

3. India and China’s Impact on Southeast Asia Through trade India introduced Hinduism, Buddhism, and later Islam to the region. China conquered Vietnam in 111 B.C. They ruled for more than 1,000 years. Introduced ways of farming and ideas of Confucius for the government.

4. Colonial Rule Traders from Europe in the 1500s brought Christianity to SE Asia. By the 1800s European nations gained control of most of SE Asia. Thailand (Siam until 1939) was the only country that was not under colonial rule. The United States gained control of the Philippines from Spain after the Spanish American War in 1898.

5. Independence During World War II the Japanese invaded SE Asia and drove out the colonial powers. After the Japanese were defeated, Southeast Asians were determined to be independent. Nationalism encouraged SE Asian countries to gain independence. Some gained it peacefully (Philippines and Burma/Myanmar), others through fighting.

6. Vietnam The Vietnamese defeated the French to gain independence. In 1954, Vietnam split into two parts (North and South) North Vietnam- Communist South Vietnam - non-Communist War broke out, the U.S. helped the South, however, the North won after U.S. withdrew.

7. Cambodia and Laos The Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party) took control of Cambodia in 1975. They were against modern technology and western ways. Moved entire city populations to rural areas and forced them to work in fields. More than one million people were killed over the next 4 years (The Killing Fields). Pol Pot was driven out in 1979.