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Southeast Asia covers about 4.5 million km2 (1.7 million mi2), which is 10.5% of
Asia or 3% of earth's total land area. Its total population is more than 641
million, about 8.5% of world's population. It is the third most populous
geographical region in the world after South Asia and East Asia. The region is
culturally and ethnically diverse, with hundreds of languages spoken by different
ethnic groups.[5] Ten countries in the region are members of ASEAN, a regional
organisation established for economic, political, military, educational and
cultural integration amongst its members.[6]
Contents [hide]
1 Definitions
1.1 Political divisions
1.1.1 Sovereign states
1.1.2 Dependent territories
1.1.3 Administrative subdivisions
1.2 Geographical divisions
2 History
2.1 Prehistory
2.2 Indianised kingdoms era
2.3 Spread of Islam
2.4 Trade and foreign colonisation
2.4.1 China
2.4.2 Europe
2.4.3 Japan
2.5 Contemporary history
3 Geography
3.1 Boundaries
3.2 Climate
3.3 Environment
4 Economy
5 Demographics
5.1 Ethnic groups
5.2 Religion
5.3 Languages
5.4 Cities
6 Culture
6.1 Influences
6.2 Arts
6.2.1 Music
6.2.2 Writing
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
Definitions[edit]
The region, together with part of South Asia, was well known by the Europeans as
the East Indies or simply the Indies until the 20th century. Chinese sources
referred the region as ?? (Nanyang), which literally means the Southern Ocean. The
mainland section of Southeast Asia is referred as Indochina by European geographer
due to its location between China and Indian subcontinent and cultural influences
from both neighboring regions. In the 20th century however, the term became more
restricted to former French Indochina territory (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). The
maritime section of Southeast Asia is also known as Malay Archipelago, a term
derived from the European concept of a Malay race.[7] Another term for Maritime
Southeast Asia is Insulindia (Indian Islands), used to describe the region between
Indochina and Australasia.[8]
The term Southeast Asia was first used in 1839 by an American pastor Howard Malcolm
in his book entitled Travels in South-Eastern Asia. Malcolm only included the
Mainland section and excluded the Maritime section in his definition of Southeast
Asia.[9] The term then officially used in the midst of World War II by the Allies,
through the formation of South East Asia Command in 1943.[10] From cultural and
linguistic perspectives, definitions of Southeast Asia may vary, but the most
common definitions include the area represented by the countries (sovereign states
and dependent territories) listed below.
Ten of eleven states of Southeast Asia are members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), while East Timor is an observer state. Papua New Guinea has
stated that it might join ASEAN, and is currently an observer. Sovereignty issues
exist over some territories in the South China Sea.