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Developments in South and Southeast Asia

Teacher Resources

Driving Question: How did belief systems affect South and Southeast Asian societies over time?

A variety of belief systems had a profound impact on societies in South and Southeast Asia. As these systems of beliefs spread across the region, they changed and shaped these societies in various ways. In this lesson you’ll learn about the beliefs that impacted South and Southeast Asian societies and how states in this area changed over time.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain how systems of belief and their practices affected South and Southeast Asian societies in the period from c. 1200 to c. 1450.
  2. Describe how and why South and Southeast Asian states developed and maintained power over time.
  3. Use close-reading strategies to examine the impact of belief systems on states in South and Southeast Asia.

Vocab Terms:

  • Buddhism
  • Christianity
  • Confucianism
  • Islam
  • polytheistic
  • scale
  • state
STEP 1

Opener: Developments in South and Southeast Asia

Geography plays a large role in where and how human communities develop. How do you think geography influenced the development of states in South and Southeast Asia?

STEP 2

South and Southeast Asia 1200–1450

Imagine how hard it is to get your friend group to agree to one thing. Now imagine huge regions agreeing on, well, anything! What is the glue that can hold large geographic regions together?

STEP 3

State and Religion in Afro-Eurasia

Government and religion can work hand in glove if one is in a theocracy; but what is that relationship like with a secular government?

STEP 4

Closer: Developments in South and Southeast Asia