HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

Ancient Mainland:
Funan, Chenla, & Pagan
Geduspan, Tumaneng

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 THE GREAT KINGDOM OF FUNAN

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 INTRODUCTION FUNAN

Most of the information we know is primarily based on records

written by Chinese scholars.

The first known polity to emerge in Southeast Asia.

Vyadapura
The kingdom’s seaport is located in modern-day Oc-eo, down
the Mekong River delta in modern day Vietnam. It’s very near
the Cambodian border.
Oc-eo

It’s capital is Vyadapua - near Ba Phnom, Prej Vang Province of

Cambodia.

Emerged in 1st century CE. During this time the Roman market
was avidly seeking Asian goods especially Chinese silk. Due to
this, efforts to enhance the maritime route between China and
India were actively being pursued.

Renaissance & Post-Renaissance

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RISE
Emergence was partially die to international
traffic avoiding the 1600 km trip around the
Malay Peninsula.

...instead moved their good over land via the

Isthmus of Kra.

Why then did Funan develop on the Eastern side

of the Gulf of Thailand? ----- Agriculture.
Isthmus
area around Oc-eo is the only placed near
iof Kra
the coast was topologically advantageous
and had correct soil type to cultivate large
amounts of rice with pre-existing wet-rice
methods
allowed the people to produce food for
themselves AND the many travelers passing
through their borders

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 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF
FUNAN (1ST - 4TH CE)
Malay princess and ruler of Funan led a raid on *useful as an anecdote in maintaining
Legend of Lin-
a passing ship. However, one of the passengers, good relations between Indian
yeh & an Indian Brahmin named Kaundinya, was blessed traders and local rulers
Kaundinya with a magic bow and was able to repel this attack
and thus landed in Funan. Having subdued the
princess he subsequently married her and became
the first King of Funan.

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 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION
OF FUNAN (1ST - 4TH CE)
Rich and powerful entrepot - Funan expanded its territory.
By the 3rd century, Chinese accounts report that the Kingdom
had conquered the entire northern rim of the gulf, absorbing
the surrounding polities.

According to Chinese sailors who had visited Funan in its prime describe it as:

Funa’s economy was engaging in importing raw materials such

as Copper and tin from other south asian ports.

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DECLINE
Kingdom reached its peak at the beginning of the 4th century
coincided at a time where surrounding ports in the Sunda
Straits and other maritime routes and ports were slowly
gaining importance

Southeast Asian sailors and travelers who started introducing

their products into the market, some even serving as
substitutes for the products bound for trade in China. (e.g.
Suntra pine resin for frankincense)

Started bypassing Funan’s ports

5th Century CE ----disturbances in the overland routes only
furthered to solidify new maritime routes

reduced activity in Funan’s ports which increasing those in

Sunda Straits = weakened economic and political power in the
region

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 DECLINE
After the fall of the Han Dynasty, China divided into North and
South due to being overrun by nomadic Steppe people (e.g.
huns) and many of its people were forced to travel South.
most were from affluent Chinese families who had
expensive tastes
Overland distubances caused the Gansu corridor closed
and the expensive goods were cut off in 439 CE

The competition from the south, from the seamen ports of the
Sunda Straits eventually deprived Funan of its previous
dominance over international trade and by the 6th century,
their realm was contracting.

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 FALL OF THE KINGDOM
The final blow came in the middle of the 6ht century when the Kingdom was
taken over by Zhenla, initially one of Funan’s vassal states. Although some
traders continued to use the Kra portage, its special position was gone.
 THE CHENLE EMPIRE

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INTRODUCTION & RISE
Most information is based on Chinese accounts.
Initially thought of as a centralized and unified Kingdom by virtue
of Chinese scholars
modern scholars believe it was a widespread and loosely
affiliated cities and provinces, each which was independent
and ruled themselves in their own unique way.
The name Chenle or Zhenle is a term given by the Chinese to the
Khmer.
It’s located in modern day Cambodia and some portions of
modern-day Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam and ruled over the area
from the 6th to 9th Centuries CE.

Initially a vassal state of Funan --- state emerged in 550 CE, 60

years later gained its independence & absorbed the
multicultural Funan.
The first ruler of Chenle was a man named Bhavavarman the
First.
 Economy

Agriculture Trade

Huge rice producer and exporter. Continued facilitating Indian trade

This product attracted much and other long distance trade
business towards the Kingdom. routes.

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CULTURE & DECLINE
Leaders were initially chosen depending on strength in battles
and their ability to gain followers. However, it eventually
became patrilineal.

Religion in Chenla is diverse due to its vast trade. Hinduism and

Buddhism were the most prominent.
Hinduism: state religion
People of Chenla worshipped Vishnu and Shiva

Due to its religion, several iconic structures were built. They

would later on be associated with the Khmer empire.

Chenla experienced external and internal turmoil. This was

taken advantage of by Javanese pirates.

Chenla’s weakening made it easier for the Khmer to take over

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 THE PAGAN EMPIRE

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 INTRODUCTION PAGAN

Otherwise known as ‘Bagan’ in other sources.

Known to be the first dynasty in the whole history of Myanmar

The kingdom is located in Modern day Myanmar, specifically

the Irrawaddy Valley.

It’s capital is Pagan/Bagan.

Also known as the birthplace of Myanmar’s culture.

Pagan, the city, existed since 849, but the Empire itself was
founded in 1044.

Renaissance & Post-Renaissance

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RISE
Pagan was a walled city that existed in the
mid-ninth century and was ruled by
Burman kings.
Pagan becomes a major polity under King
Anawrahata
1044-- he conquered Thaton and merged
Mon culture with Pagan culture.
Thanks to the recently gained (conquered)
territory to the south, the kingdom had
become more open to maritime trade.
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The Mons eventually became incredibly
influential in the intellectual and religious
aspect of people’s lives.
Mon, Pyu, and Pāli languages flourished:
Mon language: spoken by the ruling
class; script was learned by the
Burmans
Pāli language: was used for liturgy and
scriptures
August 2020
RISE

Buddhism was the main religion within the empire.

With Pagan’s continued expansion, Buddhism

became increasingly spread as it was welcomed by
the people of Pagan, especially its kings

Under King Kyanzittha’s reign, Theravada Buddhism

became the center of cultural life.

Religious architecture became popular during this

time:
> 10,000 Buddhist temples
~ 2,200 still stand

Temples and other religious structures continued to

be built, making the area well-known for its
architecture.

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 DECLINE
By the late 1100s, a king’s way of asserting his merit and
authority was through giving tax-free lands to monasteries and
temples

It got to the point when there was none left to give

What did the King, Narapatisithu, do? SENT THEM AWAY

He said that the moks had to be purified. He declared them

corrupt, took all their possessions, and sent them to Sri Lanka.
wild.

Amount of taxable land increased, leading Pagan to the peak

of its power.

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DECLINE_FINAL.PDF
Narapatisithu’s successors were not able to maintain their
authority. Soon enough they were giving land away to the
monks again

They continued to lose authority

Parts of the kingdom started to separate themselves

Tai people took advantage of the weakness and entered from

the north and the east

Mongol Conquest reached Pagan. The kings were forced into

ceremonial and subordinate roles.

Burmans went south to Toungoo (they built another empire ig)

Pagan was partitioned among other regional powers

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Cambodia - History | Britannica.” In Encyclopædia Britannica, 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia/History.
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Myanmar - the Pyu State,” n.d. https://www.britannica.com/place/Myanmar/The-
Pyu-state.
Tarling, Nicholas. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia. Cambridge ; Melbourne: Cambridge University
Press, 1999.
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Information. “Kingdom of Pagan,” 2023.
https://www.moi.gov.mm/moi%3Aeng/article/11740.
Vickery, Michael. “Funan Reviewed: Deconstructing the Ancients.” Bulletin de l’École Française d’Extrême-
Orient 90/91 (2003): 101–43. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43732647.
Williams, Benjamin. “Cultural Profile: Chenla, Age of the Pre-Angkorian Khmers.” Paths Unwritten, September
21, 2020. https://pathsunwritten.com/cambodia-chenla-culture/#Architecture_of_Chenla.

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