1. Mainland Southeast Asia
CHAPTER 29
Mainland Southeast Asia
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today

2. SECTION 1
Natural Environments
Question:
What are the three landform regions of mainland Southeast Asia?

3. River valleys and deltas
SECTION 1
Natural Environments
Mountains
Plains and plateaus
River valleys and deltas
• located in northern Southeast Asia
• rugged landscapes
• fan out from Himalayas and Plateau of Tibet through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
• found in central Southeast Asia
• cover much of Thailand and Cambodia
• includes Thailand’s Khorat Plateau
• Irrawaddy, Choa Phraya, Hong (Red), and Mekong Rivers
• fertile alluvial soils, heavy farming
• dense populations, most of the region’s cities
• rivers used for local transportation

4. SECTION 2
History and Culture
Question:
What are the cultural elements of each country in Southeast Asia?

5. Mainland Southeast Asia’s Cultures
SECTION 2
History and Culture
Mainland Southeast Asia’s Cultures
• Sino-Tibetan language (Burmese)
• many ethnic groups
• mostly Buddhists, some animists
Myanmar
• Austro-Asiatic language (Vietnamese)
• many ethnic groups
• mix of Confucianism, Buddhism, some animists
• varied food tradition
Vietnam
• Austro-Asiatic language (Khmer)
• mostly Buddhist
Cambodia
• Tai language (Thai)
• mostly Buddhist, but Hindu Brahmins lead ceremonies
• curries common in diet
Thailand
• Tai language (Laotian)
• some animists
Laos

6. SECTION 3
The Region Today
Question:
What crops are produced in each agricultural system in Southeast Asia?

7. The Region Today SECTION 3
Economic Development of West and Central Africa
Paddy agriculture
rice
Plantation agriculture
natural rubber
sugarcane
pineapples
Subsistence agriculture
rice, cassava, yams, bananas, pineapples, beans, sugarcane

8. Chapter Wrap-Up CHAPTER 29
1. What are the major climates in mainland Southeast Asia, and where are they found?
2. What types of soils have made the region’s river valleys rich farming areas?
3. Which of the region’s countries was never a European colony? What two European countries had colonies in the region?
4. What three major language families are found in the region? Who are some of the primary speakers of the languages in each group?
5. In what areas do most of the region’s people live? What are the large cities of the region like?