I. COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION
A. Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam
II. GENERAL CULTURAL QUALITIES:
A. Fusion of religious & cultural influences from South & East Asia
B. Visual complexity & religious meaning in theatrical performance
C. Ritual - trance - spirit possession
D. Art & religion - infused into the daily lives of EVERYONE
III. INDONESIA
A. Island archipelagoes
1. 13,600 + islands - 3,000 are inhabited
2. Stretches east to west 3,200 miles
3. Mountainous & volcanic
4. Seven major geographical areas
a) Sumatra
b) Java
c) Borneo
d) Sulawesi
e) Lesser Sunda Island
f) Moluccas Islands
g) Irian Jaya (western half of New Guinea)
B. Population
1. 160 million
2. Over 200 ethnic groups
3. Over 200 languages
C. Religions
1. Islam (Muslims) - 85%
a) Agama Jawa - The religion on Java
2. Hinduism - 2% - concentrated on Bali
a) Agama Hindu - the Balinese version of Hindu
3. Christian - 6%
4. Buddhism, Confucianism & animism - 7%
D. Commerce
1. Urban centers - 20% of population
2. Villages - 80% of population
3. Agriculture & trade
a) Rice farming (Hindu & Buddhist areas)
b) Trade in coastal regions (Islamic areas)
c) Hunting & subsistence agriculture (mountainous regions)
E. Culture
1. Decorative arts
a) Carving - wood
b) Metalwork - jewelry & weaponry
c) Textiles - dyeing & weaving
d) Basket making - rattan & bamboo
2. Epic literature
a) Javanese tradition
(1) Influences of Hindu from India
b) Malay tradition
(1) Influences of Islam from Persia & Arabia
c) Blending of Hindu epics & Islamic beliefs
3. Music - Gamelan orchestra
a) Developed on Java & Bali
b) Instruments
(1) Gongs
(a) Kempul
(b) Go-ong
(2) Several xylophone-like instruments
(a) Titil
(b) Panerus
(c) Saron
(d) Bonang
(e) Kenong
(f) Gender (bronze)
(g) Gambang (wooden)
(3) Drum
(4) Bamboo flute
(5) Rebab - Bowed stringed instrument
F. Regional History
1. Indigenous culture included
a) Mythology
b) Animistic Beliefs
c) Trance rituals
d) Cultivation of rice
e) Development of metallurgy
f) Martial arts
g) Village chief as leader
2. Indian influence
a) Kingdoms based on Indian models established
b) Hinduism & Buddhism introduced
c) Jurisprudence
d) Caste system
e) Sanskrit language
f) Literature
g) Dance techniques
h) Architecture
i) Shadow puppet theatre
3. Dong-son culture from South China & North Vietnam
4. Islamic influence
5. European influences
a) Portuguese
b) Dutch
c) Dutch East India Company
d) French control
e) British occupation
f) Dutch regain control
g) Holy war to drive out the Dutch
h) Various nationalist movements
i) Japanese occupation
j) Dutch & British 'police action' after W.W.II
k) Indonesian Independence - December, 1949
