Introduction: South East Asia
South East Asian countries encompass 11 countries that are home to many different ethnic groups that speak hundreds of different languages. There are many different religious backgrounds and styles of government. There are cultural similarities and differences, ancient histories, and beautiful ecosystems. It is overwhelming to know where to begin studying such a diverse region, but we are trying to distill glimpses into South East Asian culture to open our mind to how other people live and also celebrate their cultures and values.
Here are some Encyclopedia Britannica links to the 11 South East Asian countries, in case you would like to learn more about any of them. (However, it looks like you are allowed to view only a set number of articles per month for free. So choose wisely.) These are also listed in the order that we covered them:
Coloring pages
Here is a link to a set of coloring pages that include the SEA country’s flag, map, national dish, national costume and other information all on the same page. This link is for Cambodia but the other countries are listed at the bottom. The download is free… for the cost of you email address.
South East Asian Costumes
Many South East Asian countries have national costumes from the country that originate from different ways of life and cultural influences throughout their history. This website displays some of the national costumes from different south east asian countries on display in a Thai museum. We scrolled through them during our traditional clothing day in our Cambodia study to appreciate different styles and traditions across the SEA countries.
Historical context
Many of the countries in South East Asia (not Thailand) were subjected to European colonization. This influenced their way of life in many ways, from the socioeconomic status and well being of the indigenous populations to things like the architecture, religion, and food. After World War II, the process of decolonization began and many of these former colonies became independent countries. However, the lines drawn due to colonization, did not delineate the region belonging to specific people groups but now divided people groups between different neighboring governments. Here is a link if you would like to learn a little more about decolonization.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/asia-and-africa
