Southeast Asia is considered the most diverse region in the world due to the wide variety of cultures, religions, languages, and geographic features found across its 11 countries. The physical geography differs between the mainland countries of Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam which feature mountains and river systems, and the maritime island countries of Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei and East Timor. Religions also vary widely between countries and include Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, and hundreds of minority beliefs. Languages spoken range from Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, and Tagalog using influences from India, China, Arabia and Europe, creating barriers between neighboring countries.

1. Methika Gandhi
TSEA period 1
April 18, 2011
The Most Diverse Place in the World: Southeast Asia
! Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia composed of eleven nations. Over the years
each countries has adopted many cultures and personalizing them as well. It is in fact
considered to be the most diverse region in the world. Even within each nation there are a
variety of dialects spoken and multiple beliefs practiced. Each country has their own
distinct geographic features, religion and language therefore it is difficult to describe this
region in a few words.
! The physical geographical features of Southeast Asia is one aspect that
diversifies each nation.There are two main geographical regions called the Mainland and
the Maritime. The countries located in the Mainland are composed of Thailand, Malaysia,
Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. These countries lie on the Southeast Asian
peninsula and are mountainous with large rivers systems. This creates different living
environment from the Maritime for example, the longest river in this region, Mekong River,
runs through Burma, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia provides water to produce rice fields.
Rice therefore became and still is the dominant crop. It influence this region immensely
that in thai the verb “to eat” is “to eat rice.” Unlike the Mainland, Maritime is made up of
islands including the countries of Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei and East Timor. These
countries of smaller peninsula contains a smaller population. Their location and physical
features made it a popular trading area. The South China Sea became known as the
highway of commerce and the Strait of Malacca was the busiest shipping lane in the world.
! Southeast Asia adhere to a wide variety of religions and not one country are alike.
In some countries a single religion is dominant such as Burma, Cambodia and Indonesia.
While others the population follow a wide variety of religion for example Malaysia and
Singapore. The great diversity of religion has resulted from the years of trading, invasion
and migration. Islam, for example, is the most widely practiced religion today because
Muslim traders brought this idea to them. The majority of Muslims live in Brunei, Indonesia
and Malaysia. Buddhism spread through via India to the Mainland nations. This religion

2. was attractive because Buddhism created a more egalitarians religious communities
which means even the monarchy were considered to be laypeople. Vietnam and
Singapore were greatly influence by the Chinese. They adopted a religion called
Confucianism, a complex set of beliefs emphasizing harmony, stability, consensus,
hierarchy and authority. Catholicism came to the Philippines in the 16th century with the
arrival of the Spaniards and to East Timor with the arrival of the Portuguese. The regions
consist of hundreds of minority group and many of them follow their own belief. The
diversity of religion makes each country unique between others nations.
! The amount languages spoken in Southeast Asia proves how diverse the region
is. The languages are spoken and written differently. Some of the same languages are
spoken in different countries; however, they have different dialects. Chinese has become a
major language in Singapore but the urban areas speak a variety of Chinese dialect. All
countries have an official language for instance, Thai is the dominant language of Thailand
and Vietnamese is the main language in Vietnam. Malaysia and Indonesia speak a similar
language but the structure is different. Bahasa, Indonesia is easier to speak and write
since there are no tenses. Scriptures are also written in various ways. Most of them have
been adapted from foreign languages including India, China, Arabia and Europe. The
Indian scripture especially influenced Burmese, Thai, Lao and Khmer as they all do not
have spaces between each word apart from the end of sentences and they are also all
tonal languages. Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malay and Tagalog all use Roman scriptures.
Missionaries have adapted these language for example Vietnamese was originally written
in Chinese letters. Since each country has their own distinct language it creates a
language barrier, therefore all nations were independent on themselves to develop without
the influences of neighboring countries.
! No region in the world could be more diverse than Southeast Asia. From the
geographical features to religion and language not one country is homogeneous. Within
this small portion of the world there is such a great difference that it is very easy to identify
a Malaysian to a Thai. The strong culture each one holds is just amazing. A person
traveling across all Southeast Asia from one country to another would definitely feel as if
each nation is further apart than it really is.