SOUTH-EAST ASIAN
CIVILIZATIONS
LECTURE 1
Geographical Influence
On Early Civilizations
By Norsham binti Lebai Itam and
Assoc. Prof. Ar. Hjh. Zamnah Nusi
Objective
At the end of the lecture, students
should be able to understand the
process of civilization development
through geographical factors.
Geographical Factors
Latitude / climate
ii. Topography
iii. Flora & Fauna
iv. Geology
i.
Influencing Factors
Trading
ii. Colonization
iii. Missionary
i.
Assimilation of
knowledge
Influencing Factors
Multiple-Beliefs
intermarriage
Intermarriage
Crossculture
Cross-Culture
Wider Horizon of
Perceptions
Beliefs
►Animism
►Hinduism
►Buddhism
►Islam
Animism
► Belief in the spirits of nature e.g.
plants & trees; rivers & seas; hills &
mountains; earth; sky; winds; and
animals.
► The spirits can cause illness and
misfortunes, or otherwise, bring in
luck and prosperity as well as good
health.
► Practice offerings for goodness in
return in the form of food; flowers;
blood of animals; etc.
Hinduism
► Originate from India
► Polytheist with multiple layers of
beliefs
► 33 Gods in various forms and
functions
► 3 main Gods
Brahma
Siva
Vishnu
- the creator
- the destroyer
- the balancer
Hinduism
► Believe in reincarnation (reborn)
with the law of karma (punishment
for the acts of vices), mokhsha (nirvana)
► Sacred book known as Vedas
► Sacred epic known as
Mahabarata - famous Ramayana
(storey of the victory over evils).
Buddhism
► Originate from India
► 2 streams - Mahayana
Hinayana (Theravada)
► Mahayana - belief in godking
► Hinayana - belief in salvation
► Believe in reincarnation
Islam
► Originate from Middle East
► Monotheist
► Belief in 6 pillars of faith guided by
the sacred book of Al Quran
► Practice 5 pillars of Islam guided by
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. (hadith)
Islam
►4
(continuation)
streams internationally
Shafie
Hambali
Hanafi
Maliki
►2
streams in SEA
Islam Pasisir (Peninsular Malaysia &
Sumatra)
Islam Abangan (Java)
Overlapping Beliefs
Animism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam
SOUTH-EAST ASIAN
CIVILISATIONS
LECTURE 2
The Social Structures and Beliefs
►
By Norsham binti Lebai Itam and Assoc. Prof. Ar. Hjh. Zamnah
Nusi
A Family Unit
Head of Family /
Father
A Village
Head of Family /
Father
A family
The village head
“ketua kg”
The family head
A village – “kampung”
“Penghulu”the sub district head
A village
A family unit
A sub district – “mukim”
A district – “daerah”
Comprises of several sub districts
-The HeadD.O.
Distric
ts
Distric
ts
D.O.
D.O.
Distric
ts
D.O.
Distric
ts
D.O.
Distric
ts
Distric
ts
D.O.
D.O.
Distric
ts
D.O.
Who
?
A state –
“negeri”
Several states made up a
………
Who is the
ruler?
 Agung - Malaysia
 Presiden – Indonesia &
Philippines
 King – Thailand
 Prime Minister ?
The Malay Sultanates
Agung (from a state)
Sultans (9 states)
Yang Di Pertua (4 states)
Origins
 Parameswara
Sumatran
 Bugis
 Minangkabau
 Acheh
–
The most dorminant
- Johor, Selangor, Kedah, Perak,
pulau Pinang
Sultan
Bendahara
Temenggung
Shahbandar
Bendahari
Laksamana
Orang Kaya
(Ketua Daerah )
Penghulu
Ketua
Kampong
Rakyat
Jelata
 Bendahara
- Advisor
 Temenggung
- Internal Affairs
- Chief Police
- Royal Customary in Chief
 Bendahari
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Customary in charge
 Laksamana
Force
- Commander in charge of Military
- Royal Messenger
Shahbandar
- Foreign Traders Affair
SOUTH-EAST ASIAN
CIVILISATIONS
LECTURE 3
The Imperial Powers
►
By Norsham binti Lebai Itam and Assoc. Prof. Ar. Hjh.
Zamnah Nusi
SOUTH-EAST ASIAN
CIVILIZATIONS





The Javanese King
The Buddhist King
The Vietnam Kings
The Spanish Governors
The Malay Sultan
The Javanese King
►
Mid 7th - 10th C
“Hindu Sanjaya” in central province of Java
(Old Mataram)
“Buddhist Sailendra” in the East of Central
Java

11th - 14th C
“Majapahit” - Hindu / Buddhist

15th - 18th C
“Mataram” - Islam
Mataram’s Ruling
Boundaries
Kraton
Negara
Negara Agung
Mantja Negara
Tanah Sabrang
• Negara Agung (Kings families)
area immediately around Surakarta (Solo)
and Jogjakarta
• Mantja Negara (Bupati)
outer provinces of Java except western & eastern tips
• Tanah Sabrang
the land overseas such as Palembang & Banjarmasin
Two Pronounced Castes
“priyayi”
the elite, the knights who served King
“wong tjilik”
the peasants
Structure of Mataram Central
Administration
PATIH
4 CHIEF WEDANA
8 LESSER WEDANA
* There is no précised function mainly on personal relations.
The Buddhist Kings
Centers : 11th > 15th C

Ava - North Burma

Ayudhya - North Bangkok

Phnom Penh - Cambodia ( Kampuchea )
> Based on magical and physical powers
> Introduced social and political authority which
overlapped with Buddhism
> Practice tributary diplomacy like China
> Kingdom is the cosmos (heaven) while the king is
proclaimed God
Ava - North Burma
> Pagan Dynasty
Ayudhaya - North Bangkok, Thailand
> Rama Dynasty
The strongest Buddhist King and still
remain in power without being
colonised
Phnom Penh - Cambodia
> The Weakest
Buddhist Kings
Ruling Boundaries
CAPITAL
Principalities
at distant
West - borders of China
South- Segenting Kra,
Malaysia
Vietnam King
> Confucius in faith
> Regarded as “son of God”
> Chinese oriented ruling system
> Developed scholars in Chinese
philosophy
for administrators
> Loose power control based on
King
Board of
Appointme
nt
Rites
Financ
e
Justic
e
War
Vietnam King Ruling Structure
Public
Work
Vietnam King
Ruling Boundaries
N
Outer Capital City
Inner Capital City
Forbidden
City / Palace
S
The Spanish Governors
Philippines 17 th C – 18 thC

Major Spanish concern was the galleon ( a large three-
masted sailing ship used especially by the Spanish between the
15th and 18th centuries) trade
Dependant on the power of church and personal
gain

Change of social and economic structure in
Philippines

& worldwide, declined the Spanish power in the
country

Constant resistance with Muslim Sultanates in
Mindanao also the cause of the decline

The centre was Manila
Spanish Ruling Structure
Monarch
Governor Captain - general
Provincial Governors
The Friars (church)
Cabeza (barangay)
INTRODUCTION
TO SOUTH EAST ASIAN
ARCHITECTURE
►
Presented by Norsham binti Lebai Itam
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
TRADITION
FORM
TRADITION
From the Arab word which means
repeatedly
Philosophers define tradition as a
repetitive action done without
any connection to the senses
Human need will eventually
become a normality/norm or
tradition
Need is the basis to design
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM TRADITION
process that has become a
common practice in a society
(until it become a law that is
mandatory)
Eg. Adat perpateh
Ways that have become a
standard/norm eg.
•water (liquid) and cold
•Fire (hot)
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
Culture is the evolution of
mannerism in society –
development of the senses
Cultural characteristic –
regarding culture that is
advanced
Culture is the overall societal
way of life (which embraces
action, mannerism and the way
we think) physically and
spiritually .
(Civilization, mannerism and
mental development)
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
Tradition is repetitive action
that becomes a need
forming
law
forming
mannerism
forming
Complete way of life
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE
AND FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
COMMON ORIGIN
SIMILARITIES
ARCHITECTURAL
STYLES
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
ATTIC
MAIN LEVEL
UNDER FLOOR
LEVEL
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
SOCIO-CULTURAL
FACTORS
RESULTED FROM
HOUSE FORM
MODIFIED BY
TECHNOLIOGY
AVAILABE
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF
SPACE
AND FORM
LIVED IN DWELLINGS
WHERE MATERIALS
FOUND LOCALLY –
RESPONSE TO CLIMATE
► EVOLUTION OF SPACE
AND FORM
NEOLITHIC HOUSE AT
NONG CHAE SAO,
WESTERN THAILAND
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
COLONIAL INFLUENCE
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
THE TRADITIONAL STRAND
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
STRUCTURES SHOWING SADDLE ROOF AND GABLE HORNS
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE
AND FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
EVOLUTION OF SPACE AND
FORM
References
► Tregoning, 19…., In Search of South
East Asia,
► Ismail Ragi Al Faruqi & Sopher,D.E,
1974, Macmillan Publishing, New
York.
Thank You
The End