Southeast Asia

A crossroads of Indian, Chinese and Islamic influences whose kingdoms built Angkor, Borobudur and Ayutthaya.

11 countries·1 civilizations·4 major empires

Overview

From Funan and Srivijaya to Angkor, Majapahit, Ayutthaya and the Nguyễn, Southeast Asia's states rose on rice, spice and long-distance trade.

Builders of Angkor Wat, medieval Southeast Asia's greatest state.

Heir to the Khmer Empire, whose Angkor was the largest preindustrial city in the world.

Two millennia of resistance to Chinese, French and American power.

Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok — the only Southeast Asian state never colonized.

Archipelago of Srivijaya and Majapahit; the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

Three centuries of Spain, half a century of America, and vibrant island cultures.

Melaka Sultanate crossroads; multiethnic federation independent since 1957.

Pagan pagoda kingdom, Konbaung imperial expansion, British Burma and modern military rule.