Southeast Asia, Oceania, and AustraliaCoach Martinez

Physical Geography of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

Southeast Asia Peninsulas and Islands

Two peninsulas Indochinese Peninsula

Large rectangular section of southeast Asia Malay Peninsula

Serves as a bridge between the mainland and islands

Most of the islands are found in archipelagos set of closely grouped islands which are

sometimes curved in an arc The Philippines and the islands like Borneo are

high points of submerged section of the Eurasian plate

Mountains and Volcanoes Mainland Southeast Asia has several mountain ranges

Annamese Cordillera Islands

most mountains are volcanic

High Islands

LowIslands

Rivers and CoastlinesMainland has several large rivers that

run north through the valleys between mountain rangesMekong River

Flows from China to VietnamRiver spreads out into fertile deltas

Coastline is long and irregular so there are many ports

ResourcesFertile soil

from volcanic activityflooding rivers

Access to large numbers of fishMineral resources – petroleum, tin and gems

Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica Pacific has an estimated 20,000 islands Oceania’s many islands

Erosion causes some islands in Oceania to vanish, while others are created by volcanic activity High islands

islands created by volcanic actions Low islands

islands made of coral reefs The islands of Oceania are not rich in resources

Majestic New Zealand New Zealand is made up of two main islands

North IslandVery hilly and has a volcanic plateauHas fertile farmland and forest that supports the

lumber industry, also has natural harbors for ports

South IslandIs very mountainous

New Zealand has few mineral resources, but can make electricity using dams at fast moving rivers

New Zealand

Flat AustraliaSmallest and flattest continent on

earth Main mountain range is the Great

Dividing Range near the east coast To the west of the range is a vast

expanse of plateaus Very few rivers in Australia Country is rich in mineralsGreat Barrier Reef- 1250 mile chain

of 2500 reefs and islands

Australia and Great Barrier Reef

Icy Antarctica 5th largest continent

Circular in shape, centered on the South Pole Topography is hidden by thick ice sheet The Transantarctic Mountains divide continent

in two East Antarctica- plateau surrounded by mountains

and valleys West Antarctica- group of separate islands linked

by ice Resources

Largest supply of fresh water in world May have coal, minerals, and petroleum 1991- 26 nations agreed not to mine Antarctica for

50 years

Climate and VegetationMost of Southeast Asia and

Oceania is tropicalYear-round rains

Tropical wet High temperatures100-200 inches of rain per year

Wet and Dry Seasons Monsoons shape weather

Dry monsoons bring less rain Wet monsoons bring lots of rain Hot temperatures Rainfall varies

Tropical Plants Diverse plant species in Southeast Asia Oceania does not have diverse vegetation

Moderate Climate Australia and New Zealand

Hot summers, mild winters Northern Australia has a humid subtropical

climate. Mild summers, cool winters

Southern Australia and New Zealand has a marine west coast climate

Mountains In Australia forces moisture-bearing winds to rise

and shed their rain before moving inland Central Australia is desert.

Hot and Cold Deserts Arid Australia

1/3 of Australia is desert in center of continent Semiarid climate surrounds desert and crops can graze there

with irrigation Outback- unpopular inland region where few people live

White Desert Antarctica Coldest and driest continent Receives little precipitation Only plants are lichens and mosses

Human-Environment Interaction Traveling the Pacific

Navigation Charts People who settled Pacific Islands most likely came from

Southeast Asia Used land bridges and small rafts/canoes to travel the Pacific Relied on star navigation and also charts made out of sticks

and shells Sticks showed the pattern of waves commonly found in a

region Shells showed positions of islands

Special Canoes Voyaging canoes

double hulled canoes for voyaging, stable, and could carry lots of weight

Also had sails and cabins Outrigger canoes

used for lagoons has a frame with float extending from canoes for balance

Invasion of the Rabbits Europeans brought rabbits to Australia.

This almost ruined Australian landscape In 1859, Thomas Austin released 24 rabbits into

Australia so he could hunt them A single pair of rabbits can have up to 184

descendants in 18 months Rabbits have few natural enemies such as

foxes in Australia By 1900, Australia had more than 1 billion

rabbits Rabbits wiped out native plants and destroyed

crops

Control Measures Imported foxes to prey on rabbits

Foxes caused almost as much damage as rabbits In 1900s, the government built a 2000 mile fence to keep

rabbits from spreading to the Southwest This failed to control the population of rabbits

In 1950s, the government infected the rabbits with a disease called myxomatosis. More than 90% of rabbits died Rabbits became immune to the disease and their

numbers boomed again to 300 million by the 1990s Now trying poison, new diseases, erecting fences, and

destroying the burrows where rabbits live

Nuclear Testing Tests in Bikini Atoll

After World War II the United States tested atomic weapons in the Pacific Bikini Atoll was the site of the U.S. atomic weapons tests In 1946, the government moved 167 islanders to another atoll

and conducted two tests 1951- 1958, the U.S. government held about 60 more tests Explosion of the Hydrogen bomb, Bravo, vaporized islands and

contaminated area with radiation Long term effects

Bikini Atoll may never be suitable for human life again

Southeast AsiaHuman geography

A long history of DiversityEarly History

China and India influenced ancient southeast Asia China ruled Vietnam from 111 BC to AD 939 and

influenced their art, technology, ideas, etc. Hinduism and Buddhism spread through

southeast Asia from India Early southeast Asia’s states had mandalas-

states organized as rings of power around a central court

Khmer Empire – mandala that lasted from 9th to 15th centuries

Powerful States1300s thru 1800, five powerful

states existed that were similar to mandalas, but larger and more complex

The Burmese, the Vietnamese, the Thai, and the Javanese began to shape their national identities

Colonialism and its Aftermath Southeast Asia traded with merchants from Arabia and

India who brought Islam to southeast Asia European Control

When Europeans arrived in 1509, they just wanted to make money

The region’s wealth flowed from southeast Asia to Europe

By 20th century , only Siam (Thailand) was not a colony Affects of colonization

Europeans set up bureaucratic governments Forced them to make goods that were good for the

European economy Included rubber, sugar, rice, tea, and coffee

Colonialism sparked nationalism as southeast Asian states united to rebel against European rule

Independence Japan occupied southeast Asia during

World War II After the war, Southeast Asian countries

sought independence. Indonesia fought to win independence

from the Dutch Vietnam a French colony suffered

decades of turmoil until they finally received their independence in 1954

Vietnam war the U.S. became involved in keeping

Communist North Vietnam from taking South Vietnam which ended in 1975.

Vietnam War

An uneven economy Traditional economies (farming)

Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam Ex: rice and teak (yellowish-brown wood)

industries Lack of industry caused by

Vietnam War destroyed factories and roads Thousands of refugees fled after the war Political turmoil in Cambodia and Myanmar

Industry and Finance Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the

Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand have more highly developed economies

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

promotes economic growth Industries include

processing agricultural products Textiles, Electronic products

Finance Singapore is a center of finance

A Rich Mosaic of CultureReligious Diversity

Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia

Philippines is CatholicIndonesia and Brunei are MuslimSome areas practice Hinduism

and other traditional local beliefs

Rich Artistic Legacy Angkor Wat

ancient temple complex in Cambodia Buddhism and Hinduism have influenced the

region’s sculpture and architecture

Changing Lifestyles Most Southeast Asians live in rural villages and

follow traditional ways People live on wood houses built on stilts Roofs are usually made of thatch Most villages have Buddhist temples that

serves as the center of social life Most villagers wear traditional clothing, such

as longyi – a long, tightly wrapped skirt worn in Southeast Asia

The Cities Many people are moving to the cities

such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore In Southeast Asia, people mostly live in

apartments Shortage of housing, some set up shacks

Oceania A History of the Islands

First IslandersPrehistoric people journeyed from

mainland of southeast Asia to nearby Pacific islands using small rafts and canoes and land bridges that have since disappeared

They migrated to as far as Hawaii, New Zealand, and Madagascar

3 regions of OceaniaMicronesia- “tiny islands”Melanesia- “black islands”Polynesia- “many islands

Contact with the West In the 1500s Europeans like began

exploring the Pacific In the 1800s Christian missionaries

arrived Convert the natives to Christianity Hunted whales Started plantations

Coconut, coffee, pineapples, and sugar

Brought disease Western ways replaced traditional ways

Recent History

Suffered during the last half of the 20th centuryWorld War II was fought in the Pacific

US fought Japan in fierce battles there to gain control of Pacific

Some islands were used as nuclear test sites by the US and other countries

Since 1962, 12 nations have gained independence

Battles in the Pacific

A Traditional Economy Most islands economies are based on subsistence activities. Agriculture

Islands in the Pacific are not good for agriculture Grow bananas, sugar, cocoa, coffee and copra (dried

meat of coconuts) Fishing

Other economic Activities Tourism

Good because it brings in money Bad because it threatens environment and traditional

ways of life

Culture of the Islands Language and Religion

There over 1,100 different languages spoken in OceaniaPapua New Guinea speak 823 languagesMany Pacific Islanders speak European

languagesSpanish, English, French

Christianity is most widely spread religion Some Pacific islanders still practice their

traditional religions.

Island Life Traditional Life

In Polynesia most people lived in villages led by a chief

Economies centered on fishing and farming Taro- crop with a starchy root that can be eaten

boiled or made into breads, pudding or a paste called poi

Polynesians were warlike Micronesians tended to exist peacefully and lived in

extended families Polynesians fished and farmed In Melanesia, people lived on coast so they could fish

Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctic made up the

last region to be explored by Europeans 1788, Great Britain founded Sydney, Australia as a

penal colony (a place to send prisoners) Sydney is located on a deep, beautiful harbor that

allows for a port and also provides an arena for sailing and swimming

Mild climate Diverse population

History: Distant European Outposts The original inhabitants

Australia Aboriginal people migrated to Australia from

Asia 40,000 years ago, made 500 groups, speaking 200 languages

Complex religious belief and social structures but simple economy based on hunting and gathering

New Zealand Maori migrated from Polynesia more than

1000 years ago

Early ExplorersCaptain James Cook of Britain was the first to explore New Zealand in 1769 and Australia in 1770

European Settlement Australia

1788 Britain colonized Australia Place for prisoners Pacific navel bases

In Australia, Europeans had violent conflicts with native people and killed many and gave them deadly diseases

New Zealand Colonized by hunter and whalers from Europe, America,

and Australia Treaty of Waitangi

Gave Britain control over New Zealand . Disagreement over treaty caused war between the Maori and British

Tens of thousands of Maoris died from diseases Antarctica

Was not colonized because of its cold climate Gold

Discovered in 1851 in Australia and 1861 in New Zealand Hundreds of thousands of people moved here to strike it

rich Most never left

Modern NationsBoth Australia and New Zealand are

both independent but remain part of the British Commonwealth

New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893.

Both countries are attempting to improve the lives of the Aboriginal people and Maori by returning their former lands.

AntarcticaAntarctica is unsettled

12 countries drafted treaty preserving continent for research

In 2000, 18 countries have sent scientists there for research

Economy: Meat, Wool and ButterAgriculture

Major exporter of farm productsButter, cheese, meat, and wool

Ranching is big in New Zealand

Sheep ranching in Australia

Mining and Manufacturing Mining

Australia- diamonds, lead, zinc, and opals, bauxite, coal, copper, gold and iron ore

Mining in Australia is tough because most of the minerals are in the outback

Manufacturing and Service Major industry in Australia and New

Zealand is processing food products New Zealand- wood and paper industry Nearly 65% of Australia’s jobs are in the

service industry

Economic Future

Nations want to diversify economy and not rely on Agriculture

Hard to develop industry with nearby Asia with cheap labor costs

Distinctive Culture Australia’s Culture

Most Australians are of British descent but Australia has high rates of immigration20% of Australians come from

Greece, Italy and Southeast Asia Christianity is main religion English is main language Drink tea and play rugby 1% of people areAboriginal people

New Zealand’s CultureThe majority of New

Zealanders are of European, mostly British, descent.

15 % of New Zealand’s people are Maori

English and Maori are official languages

Christianity is main religion

Modern Life City and Country

In both countries about 85 % of people live in cities or towns

Both countries are modern with good roads, sanitation, and infrastructure

In Australia, many wealthy ranchers own private airplanes to keep them cross country

Recreation Good climate for outdoor activities

Southeast Asia, Oceania, Australia and AntarcticaToday’s issues

Aboriginal Land Claims In 1976, the Australian government

denied claims of Aboriginal people for their land back

In protest Aboriginal people erected a tent on the lawn of Old Parliament House in the Australian capital to symbolize how they were foreigners in their own land

Australian government tried to get rid of it but couldn’t

Aboriginal People Lose Land Aboriginal people were hunters and

gatherers so they depended on nature completely

British policy Since they didn’t farm, mine, or build on

land, the British felt they had no claims to the land. British called it Terra Nullius – Latin for empty land

So British decided they could take the land away from the Aboriginal people

Stolen Land and Stolen Children Stolen Land

Europeans began to settle Australia in 1788 and chose most fertile land

Aboriginal people fought back but were defeated Some Aboriginal people got put on reservations Some blended into European ways of life

Stolen Children Between 1909 and 1969, the Australian

government took about 100,000 Aboriginal children and gave them to white families

Assimilation- minority adopts majority’s culture Aboriginal people call those children the “Stolen

generation” Many Aboriginal people are fighting assimilation by

passing their culture on to their children

Land Claims Aboriginal people were not recognized as full

citizens until 1967 Land Rights Act of 1976 Gave Aboriginal people the right to claim land in

taken away from them in the Northern Territory The Mabo Case In 1992 the courts ruled that Aboriginal people had

owned land before the British arrived The Wik Case In 1996 the courts ruled that Aboriginal people could

claim land owned by the government and used as pastoral lease

Many white ranchers feared that their way of life was threatened (ranching)by this and sued

Issue is still not resolved today.

Industrial Sparks Change For many people struggling to escape

poverty, any job, even one with long hours, low pay, and abuse is better than none

Moving to find Jobs Across southeast Asia, people are moving

from farms to cities to work in factories They may work 16 hours a day, 7 days a

week Industrialization (growth of industry)

has caused cities to grow

Push Factors Push Factors in East Asia

Lost resourcessoil erosionDeforestationwater overuse

Scarcity of land60% of rural families don’t have enough land

to earn a living by farming Population growth

as population grows , land shortage became worse

Pull Factors Pull Factors in East Asia

Industryfind a job in a factory

Education Government services

Impact on cities Low availability of housing More pollution, traffic has increased Disposal of human waste is a problem no

sewage treatment facilities

Other Results of Industrialization Economic Effects

Rapid industrial growth since the 1960s Increase in trade and exports Higher income for some citizens, income

gap is expanding Social unrest and crime

Environmental Effects Factories can pollute the air by burning fossil

fuels, carelessly disposing of toxic materials Industry has harmed the environment by

using up valuable resources such as water and trees