Ancient History of Southeast Asia (SEA)

Much of SEA’s early history is difficult to determine due to localized ____________________

migration patterns, and drastic _________________________ changes and weather patterns
in the region over time.

For example, the until about 7000 BCE

the Earth’s seas were about 150 feet
lower than they are now, and the
_____________________ Strait used to
be an area of wetland (instead of a body
of water).
Why would the change in sea level affect the
study of ancient societies in SEA?

Early groups of people that made their way south from mainland Asia tended to break off
into smaller groups as they made their way to the islands of the _______________________
and southern and western ____________________________.
Indonesia 500 BCE-300 CE

Indonesia 100 BCE-300 CE

Thailand 500 BCE-300 CE

Why do you think people in SEA would break off into smaller groups rather than settle in
larger societies?
From 1000 BCE ancient people of SEA people continued to migrate…
- Eastward to the ___________________ & __________________ (1000 CE)
- Westward to ______________ (500-700 CE)

The distance between

Antananarivo, Madagascar
and Honolulu, Hawaii is
approximately
_________________ miles!

(This migration is responsible

for bringing bananas to
Madagascar).

Here are just some of the early societies

that flourished in ancient SEA:

- Ban Kao culture (2000-500 BCE; modern southern Thailand and Malaysia): Grave site
artifacts include: _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.

- Dongson culture (500 BCE-300 BC; south of present-day_____________________ ):

Known for their massive bronze drums (some over 150 pounds) decorated with
geometric shapes and depictions of animals and humans. The drums have been found
throughout SEA, which indicate extensive_______________________.

- Sa Huỳnh culture ( ________ BCE- ________ CE; modern-day central and southern
Vietnam): The most likely founders of the Champa kingdom. Archeological sites have
found __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
The culture is also known for its unique jade and glass ear ornaments featuring two-
headed animals (they might be _____________ ).
 Khmer Empire
- Approximate years active: 800-1000 CE

- Relative location:

- Most known for the temples of: ______________________

o These temples were surrounded by massive water reservoirs

- The people living at Angkor were mostly peasant ____________________.

o Approximate population of ___________________

- Built by King Suryavarman II in the 1100s

- Some archeologists believe the reservoirs surrounding the cities were built to catch
monsoon water, some believe they were designed with religious intentions
- One possible reason for the collapse of the Khmer Empire: _______________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ .