Notes on Southeast Asia

Section 7.4

Europeans Carve out areas of influence in

Southeast Asia Goals– Expand Trade– Acquire raw materials– Christianize

Portugal

• Controlled spice trade around islands in Southeast Asia

• Spread Catholicism• Many natives resented Portuguese disregard

for native culture and traditions.

Spain

• They colonize the Philippines because it was an excellent location for trade between Asia and Americas.

• A Datus, or local ruler, pledged loyalty to Spain in return for keeping their regional power.

• Most Filipino’s converted to Catholicism.

Dutch

• Broke Portuguese dominance of the Spice Trade.

• They had more success because they only wanted to trade, not Christianize the natives

• Their only goal was trade• Received trading rights in Java for helping

locals rulers put down rebellion• Helped get English out of Indonesia

France

• Latecomers to exploration in Southeast Asia beginning around 1860s

• Jesuits convert many natives to Christianity• They control Vietnam and Indochina

Thai Kingdom

Trailok (1448-1488)

• King of Ayutthaya• Set up strong central government with separate civil

and military branches• Required officials to live in the capital so he could

oversee their work• Set up a class system- all people got land but higher

you were in rank, the more land you received• Europeans had not yet begun exploration during his

rule

Phraya Chakri (1782-1809)

• General who became king when rebels took over Taskin rulers

• He moved the capital city to Bangkok• Established the dynasty that still rules

Thailand• He was known as the King of Siam• Maintained policy of isolation from Europeans

King Mongkut (1851-1868)

•Makes European nations compete for trade rights

•Felt western trade is a positive influence

•Wants to modernize his kingdom

•Encouraged people to study science and European languages

•Struggled with the idea of how much change the kingdom should make

Chulalongkorn (1868-1910)•Continued his fathers’ goals of modernizing the kingdom

•Ended slavery

•Encouraged his people to study abroad

•Built railways and roads

How the Thai Kingdom avoided European

Conquest and Colonization

Had a well-established kingdomMid 1400s

• Early kings developed strong religious traditions based on Buddhism and Hinduism

• Maintained a strong central government• Required Government officials to live in the palace

with the king• Set up a rigid class system• Banned all Europeans who tried to colonize in 1688

(Dutch and some Portuguese were allowed to remain as long as they just wanted to trade)

• Thai Kingdom would remain closed to Europeans until 1826