Notes on Southeast Asia
Section 7.4
Europeans Carve out
areas of influence in
Southeast Asia
Goals
– Expand Trade
– Acquire raw materials
– Christianize
Portugal
• Controlled spice trade around islands in
Southeast Asia
• Spread Catholicism
• Many natives resented Portuguese disregard
for native culture and traditions.
Spain
• They colonize the Philippines because it was
an excellent location for trade between Asia
and Americas.
• A Datus, or local ruler, pledged loyalty to Spain
in return for keeping their regional power.
• Most Filipino’s converted to Catholicism.
Dutch
• Broke Portuguese dominance of the Spice
Trade.
• They had more success because they only
wanted to trade, not Christianize the natives
• Their only goal was trade
• Received trading rights in Java for helping
locals rulers put down rebellion
• Helped get English out of Indonesia
France
• Latecomers to exploration in Southeast Asia
beginning around 1860s
• Jesuits convert many natives to Christianity
• They control Vietnam and Indochina
Thai Kingdom
Trailok (1448-1488)
• King of Ayutthaya
• Set up strong central government with separate
civil and military branches
• Required officials to live in the capital so he could
oversee their work
• Set up a class system- all people got land but
higher you were in rank, the more land you
received
• Europeans had not yet begun exploration during
his rule
Phraya Chakri (1782-1809)
• General who became king when rebels took
over Taskin rulers
• He moved the capital city to Bangkok
• Established the dynasty that still rules
Thailand
• He was known as the King of Siam
• Maintained policy of isolation from Europeans
King Mongkut (1851-1868)
• Makes European nations compete for trade rights
• Felt western trade is a positive influence
• Wants to modernize his kingdom
• Encouraged people to study science and
European languages
• Struggled with the idea of how much change the
kingdom should make
Chulalongkorn (1868-1910)
• Continued his fathers’ goals of modernizing
the kingdom
• Ended slavery
• Encouraged his people to study abroad
• Built railways and roads
How the Thai Kingdom
avoided European
Conquest and
Colonization
Had a well-established kingdom
Mid 1400s
• Early kings developed strong religious traditions
based on Buddhism and Hinduism
• Maintained a strong central government
• Required Government officials to live in the
palace with the king
• Set up a rigid class system
• Banned all Europeans who tried to colonize in
1688 (Dutch and some Portuguese were allowed
to remain as long as they just wanted to trade)
• Thai Kingdom would remain closed to Europeans
until 1826