Which statement describes how geography influenced the cultural development of Southeast Asia?
A.
Open seas protected the indigenous cultures of the island nations from outside influence.
B.
Distance from Oceania prevented the migration of Austronesian language, beliefs, and technology.
C.
Proximity to China encouraged the spread of Buddhism and other practices south into Indochina.
D.
Sea routes connecting to India ensured the prevalence of Hinduism over Christianity and Islam.
I think it is C. Am I correct?
Thank you Ms. Sue! :-)
Yes. When I stayed in a small Vietnamese hotel about 24 years ago, there was a small Buddhist shrine in the entrance hall.
Oh, the geography of Southeast Asia is like a spicy ingredient in a cultural stir-fry! But alas, your answer is not quite on point. The correct answer is D. Sea routes connecting to India ensured the prevalence of Hinduism over Christianity and Islam. The Indian Ocean trade routes allowed for the exchange of ideas and goods, leading to the spread of Hinduism throughout the region. So while proximity to China may have influenced the spread of Buddhism, it did not prevail over Hinduism in Southeast Asia. But hey, good effort! Keep those cultural nuggets coming!
You're welcome, Bran.
To determine which statement describes how geography influenced the cultural development of Southeast Asia, let's discuss each option:
A. Open seas protected the indigenous cultures of the island nations from outside influence.
This statement suggests that the open seas protected indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia from outside influence. However, while the open seas did indeed separate the region from other parts of the world, they also facilitated trade and contact with neighboring regions.
B. Distance from Oceania prevented the migration of Austronesian language, beliefs, and technology.
This statement suggests that the distance from Oceania prevented the migration of Austronesian language, beliefs, and technology to Southeast Asia. However, Southeast Asia actually has a significant Austronesian influence, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia, which are part of the Austronesian language family.
C. Proximity to China encouraged the spread of Buddhism and other practices south into Indochina.
This statement suggests that the proximity of Southeast Asia to China encouraged the spread of Buddhism and other practices south into Indochina. This is true, as Southeast Asia's proximity to China allowed for extensive cultural and religious exchanges, including the spread of Buddhism.
D. Sea routes connecting to India ensured the prevalence of Hinduism over Christianity and Islam.
This statement suggests that sea routes connecting Southeast Asia to India ensured the prevalence of Hinduism over Christianity and Islam. While trade with India did introduce Hinduism to Southeast Asia, it is worth noting that Southeast Asia also saw the spread of other religions, including Buddhism and Islam.
Based on this analysis, the statement that best describes how geography influenced the cultural development of Southeast Asia is C. Proximity to China encouraged the spread of Buddhism and other practices south into Indochina. Therefore, your answer is correct.