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
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