04 Korea and Southeast Asiafor Middle School

04 Korea and Southeast Asiafor Middle School

1. KOREA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

2. Korea and Southeast Asia were also heavily influenced by China. These peoples, however, developed their own, unique cultures. Korea’s Geography Korea is located on a peninsula extending from mainland Asia into the sea. It stands between China and the islands of Japan. With 5,400 miles of coastline, Koreans turned to the sea for food and commerce. The Chinese for centuries have influenced Korean culture and technology. Korea acted as a bridge from China to Japan along which culture and technology passed. The Silla Unite Korea Three kingdoms ruled ancient Korea from 100 bce to 676 ce . One ruled the north, another the southwest, and the third the southeast. During this time, Buddhist monks were spreading Chinese culture in Korea. With the help of the Tang emperor, the Silla kingdom in the southeast was able to defeat the other two kingdoms. Silla’s conquests helped unify Korea under one government and social structure. Under Silla rule, Korea became an economic and cultural center.

3. Koryo Culture In time, the Koryo dynasty replaced the Silla. The name “Korea” comes from the Koryo . During the Koryo dynasty, Koreans established their own writing system and a unique way to make porcelain. The Koryo enjoyed trade and cultural connections with Tang and Song China. That ended when the Mongols ruled China and invaded Korea. After the Koreans made peace with the Mongols, the Choson dynasty came to power and ruled Korea for more than 500 years. Southeast Asia as a Crossroads The region of Southeast Asia is a grouping of several peninsulas and thousands of islands. Its relative location made it a crossroads of trade, linking it with India and China. Trade routes from the Asian mainland and across the southern seas brought goods and new ideas.

4. How Did Indian and Chinese Culture Spread? Traders, missionaries, and invaders from India and China influenced Southeast Asia’s many cultures. Indian traders and Hindu priests fanned out across the region during Gupta rule in India. As a result, Indian styles of art and architecture influenced artwork and building in Southeast Asia. Buddhist monks and nuns followed, spreading Buddhism in the region. During the Han dynasty, China invaded Vietnam. Chinese culture dominated Vietnam for nearly 1,000 years. The Kingdoms of Southeast Asia The kingdoms of Southeast Asia reflect the impact of Indian culture. The kingdom of Pagan in present-day Myanmar (Burma) became one of the world’s largest centers for Buddhism. Rulers of the Khmer, centered in present-day Cambodia, became Hindus. Their people adopted Indian systems of writing, architecture, and mathematics. The Srivijaya empire of present-day Indonesia blended their own beliefs with Hinduism and Buddhism.