Formerly Burma and Siam Myanmar and Thailand Formerly Burma and Siam

Objectives Identify Myanmar and Thailand on a blank map. Explain how the physical geographies of these nations are similar. Identify where minority and majority groups live within these nations in respect to their physical geography. Discuss the instability of these nations using the word coup.

Terms and Places Irrawaddy River is the large river in Myanmar. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. A coup is when the military takes over the government. Aung San Suu Kyi is (Ong Song Su Chi) Myanmar’s elected leader, now under house arrest.

Physical Geography & Populations

Where are Myanmar and Thailand? Myanmar and Thailand are the diving point between the Indian Ocean to the west and the South China Sea (part of the Pacific Ocean) to the east. Mountains on Myanmar’s west separate it from India. Mountains on the north separate Myanmar from China. On the east of Thailand lies the communist countries of southeast Asia.

Shan Both Myanmar and Thailand are built around river valleys. Khorat Both Myanmar and Thailand are built around river valleys. Both Myanmar and Thailand originally located their capitals on the fertile delta regions at the mouths of these rivers. Both Myanmar and Thailand have fertile plateaus on their east.

Both of their population centers are at the river deltas. However, Thailand has another population center along the coast of the Malay Peninsula.

Myanmar Thailand United States 261,228 sq miles 198,117 sq miles 3,806,000 million sq miles

Ethnic groups

Myanmar used to be called Burma because the Burmese people are the majority. The Burmese people live in the Irrawaddy River Valley, the best land. The minority peoples live in the surrounding mountains and on the eastern plateau.

Thailand has fewer minorities. Still, the Thai people hold the river valley and the minorities are in the highlands on the country’s edges.

Both Burmese and Thai have their own unique alphabet.

economy

Health and economy in Thailand is similar to other East and Southeast Asian countries. Myanmar’s health and economy is poorer than most other East and Southeast Asian countries. 2c Economy

Half of Myanmar’s economy is..

Thailand is the world’s #1 producer of computer hard drives.

Both nations have beautiful landscapes and temples that lure tourist dollars.

Government

However, both nations have experienced political unrest.

In Myanmar, the Buddhist monks have resisted the government there.

In 2005, Myanmar moved its capital to a brand new city. Perhaps they thought Yangon – being on the coast – was vulnerable to foreign attack.

A E C F B D E F G G H H H H H I Which nation is Thailand? Myanmar A E C F B Thailand D E F G Which nation is Thailand? G H H H H Which nation is Myanmar? H I

Myanmar and Thailand each have coastline on what two oceans? What is a coup? It is when a political party refuses to allow an election. Indian and Pacific It is when the military takes over the government. Atlantic and Pacific Atlantic and Indian It is when a political party loses an election, but refuses to release power. Which is the best description of how physical geography affected the growth of Myanmar and Thailand? The majorities and the minorities live in similar places in both countries. Which of the below best describes where they live? They both developed along river valleys. majority in countryside; minorities in the cities. They both developed on the edges of deserts. majority on the mainland; minorities on the islands. They both developed along coastlines. majority in the central river valleys; minority in the mountains around the edges. They both developed along mountain chains.

Please read “Thailand.” Geographica. http://www.geographia.com/thailand “Natural Resources.” World Explorer: Eastern Hemisphere. Prentice-Hall, 1998. pg. 552-553. Topic: bamboo, fertile river valleys, Himalayan farming Vocab: surplus, cash crop, Thailand, Java “Thailand: Jewel of the Orient.” PBS. http://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand