Ancient Crossroads: Southeast Asia
description
Transcript of Ancient Crossroads: Southeast Asia
Henri MouhotHenri MouhotFrench explorerFinds ancient city of
Angkor while walking through rain forest in 1861
Angkor was a crossroads city for travelers from China & India
Early History- SouthEast AsiaEarly History- SouthEast AsiaMaking bronze tools,
growing yams and rice, and sailing developed in Southeast Asia
Yams grown in Indonesia considered one of the earliest examples of agriculture ever discovered (between 15,000-10,000 B.C.E.)
Trade important:◦ S.E. Asia center of sea
trading routes◦ Indian traders visit S.E. Asia
around 100 C.E. Goods exchanged:
◦ Rice, tea, timber, and spices◦ Religious ideas and
farming/metalworking skills exchanged
Indian InfluenceIndian Influence•Around 100 C.E., traders, Hindu priests, and Buddhist monks bring Indian culture to Southeast Asia
•They brought art, architecture, & religion
Buddhism in Buddhism in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Began in Southeast Asia around 500 B.C.E.
What are the major religions in India today?
Buddhism founded by Siddhartha Gautama◦ Wealthy prince◦ Becomes wandering monk
after seeing different signs that meant he should give up his life of luxury
What are the different signs he saw?
Monk life wasn’t working, sits under a tree, meditates, and achieves enlightenment
News of his experience spread; people began to call him the Buddha, or the Enlightened One
Basic Buddhist Basic Buddhist teachingsteachings
Buddha influenced by Hindu teachings, such as karma and reincarnation
Life is continuing cycle of life & death
Buddha rejected Hindu caste system, priests, & the Vedas (ancient texts)
Four Noble Truths◦ Suffering, Cause,
Extinction, & truth of the path
Once a person is free from desires & pain, one can achieve nirvana◦ What is nirvana?
To escape suffering, follow guidelines called Eightfold Path
Spread of Spread of BuddhismBuddhism
Buddha’s followers spread this new faith to southern India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Korea, & Japan
Schools & communities were created for monks & nuns to live together & work
Empires in Southeast Asia were based on major religions, such as Empires in Southeast Asia were based on major religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, & Islam. If the religion became unpopular, Buddhism, Hinduism, & Islam. If the religion became unpopular, the empire would decline.the empire would decline.
Khmer Empire
CambodiaHinduHad great temple,
Angkor WatDeclined when
Buddhism grew & Hinduism was less popular
IndonesiaIndonesia
Huge Buddhist temple called Borobudur was built in 6th century
Temple was built with 2 million cubic feet of stone
Shaped like a pyramidAt the top, temple is 103 feet high
MyanmarMyanmarBuddhism spreads to Myanmar11th century: King Anawrahta establishes a Buddhist
kingdom at the capital of PaganThousands of temples were built in the kingdom
◦ Most famous: Ananda TempleAnawrahta was a very religious man
◦ He sends a ship full of treasures to the temple commemorating where the Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment