Epic Tour--Southeastern Asia and Colonism
This is an informational, educational tour ride that provides a holistic view of imperialism in Southeast Asia in the 1800s. We will start off the tour with a short train ride around British Burma to talk about the local culture, influenced by the British rule. When European forces colonized the areas, they built networks of railroads in their colonies for transportation and military purposes, especially the British and the French. Then, we leave the continent from the Singapore port in a commercial ship, which loops around the Islands of Indonesia. There you can experience both the wonderful sights of the islands, and the dominance of European power in Southeast Asia, Finally, we got ashore into Indochina controlled by France, which then led us to Siam, or present Thailand, which was the only independent country at the time, and buffered the British and the French rivalry.
1. British Burma:
In the 1600s, 1700s, the Dutch controlled the spice trade by holding key Southeast Asian ports and fortifications. However, the British began to compete against the Dutch in Malaysia in the 1800s. The British attained control of Malacca from the Dutch in 1824, building rubber plantations to provide raw material for bicycle-tire factories in Britain.
In the 1600s, 1700s, the Dutch controlled the spice trade by holding key Southeast Asian ports and fortifications. However, the British began to compete against the Dutch in Malaysia in the 1800s. The British attained control of Malacca from the Dutch in 1824, building rubber plantations to provide raw material for bicycle-tire factories in Britain.
2. secular education system
The monastery schools were completely independent from government control. Buddhist monks, in addition to carrying out the duties of their office, acted as the schoolmasters, teaching the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. not only academic knowledge, the
monastery schools also shaped the traditional cultural, moral, and religious values of the community and society. The strong connection between religion and schooling is reflected by fact that the Burmese word for school (kyaung) is the same word used to refer to the monastery.
Starting in 1854, the British authorities extended their influence into the education system, aiming to “convey useful and practical knowledge suited to every station in life to the great masses of people” as well as to “spread civilization” to remove superstitious prejudices. They also hoped to use education to attach subjects more closely to British rule, and needed natives who were literate and fluent in English to fill the positions as local administrators and subordinate civil servants. They adopted the modern schooling system based on western ideologies that taught students skills that had market value and that led them to contribute to the economy to the benefit of their colonizers. The shift of education system had a positive impact on Burma because it first allowed girls to be educated.
The monastery schools were completely independent from government control. Buddhist monks, in addition to carrying out the duties of their office, acted as the schoolmasters, teaching the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. not only academic knowledge, the
monastery schools also shaped the traditional cultural, moral, and religious values of the community and society. The strong connection between religion and schooling is reflected by fact that the Burmese word for school (kyaung) is the same word used to refer to the monastery.
Starting in 1854, the British authorities extended their influence into the education system, aiming to “convey useful and practical knowledge suited to every station in life to the great masses of people” as well as to “spread civilization” to remove superstitious prejudices. They also hoped to use education to attach subjects more closely to British rule, and needed natives who were literate and fluent in English to fill the positions as local administrators and subordinate civil servants. They adopted the modern schooling system based on western ideologies that taught students skills that had market value and that led them to contribute to the economy to the benefit of their colonizers. The shift of education system had a positive impact on Burma because it first allowed girls to be educated.
3. To increase the production of rice, many Burmese migrated from the northern heartland to the Irrawaddy delta, shifting the population concentration, and changing the basis of wealth and power.
4. British East India Company controlled Singapore as a free port for access to Indonesian archipelago
In the legend year of 1819, the arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the lieutenant governor of the British enclave of Bencoolen (Bengkulu on the west coast of Sumatra) and an agent of the British East India Company, marked the establishment of a trading post, obtaining permission from the local Malay official. He called it Singapore, and opened the port to free trade and free immigration on the south coast of the island at the mouth of the Singapore River. During the 50 years following Raffles’s establishment of his free-trade port, Singapore grew in size, population, and prosperity. In 1824 the Dutch formally recognized British control of Singapore, and London acquired full sovereignty over the island. From 1826 to 1867, Singapore, along with two other trading ports on the Malay Peninsula-- Penang and Malacca--and several smaller dependencies, were ruled together as the Straits Settlements from the British East India Company headquarters in India. In 1867 the British needed a better location than fever-ridden Hong Kong to station their troops in Asia, so the Straits Settlements were made a crown colony with its capital Penang, ruled directly from London. By that time, Singapore had surpassed the other Straits Settlements in importance, becoming a bustling seaport with 86,000 inhabitants. Singapore also dominated the Straits Settlements Legislative Council. After the Suez Canal opened in 1869 and steamships became the major form of ocean transport, British influence increased in the region, bringing still greater maritime activity to Singapore.
In the legend year of 1819, the arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the lieutenant governor of the British enclave of Bencoolen (Bengkulu on the west coast of Sumatra) and an agent of the British East India Company, marked the establishment of a trading post, obtaining permission from the local Malay official. He called it Singapore, and opened the port to free trade and free immigration on the south coast of the island at the mouth of the Singapore River. During the 50 years following Raffles’s establishment of his free-trade port, Singapore grew in size, population, and prosperity. In 1824 the Dutch formally recognized British control of Singapore, and London acquired full sovereignty over the island. From 1826 to 1867, Singapore, along with two other trading ports on the Malay Peninsula-- Penang and Malacca--and several smaller dependencies, were ruled together as the Straits Settlements from the British East India Company headquarters in India. In 1867 the British needed a better location than fever-ridden Hong Kong to station their troops in Asia, so the Straits Settlements were made a crown colony with its capital Penang, ruled directly from London. By that time, Singapore had surpassed the other Straits Settlements in importance, becoming a bustling seaport with 86,000 inhabitants. Singapore also dominated the Straits Settlements Legislative Council. After the Suez Canal opened in 1869 and steamships became the major form of ocean transport, British influence increased in the region, bringing still greater maritime activity to Singapore.
5. Java
During the course of the 18th century the United East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, abbreviated VOC) had established itself as the dominating economic and political power on Java after the crumbling and collapse of the Mataram empire. Even though since the early 1600s, this Dutch trading company had been a major power in Asian trade, but they didn't develop an interest to interfere in indigenous politics on the island of Java until the 18th century, in order to tighten their control on the local economy. However, in 1794, VOC went bankrupt after a slow declination and demise with themismanagement, corruption and fierce competition from the British East India Company, and was nationalized by the Dutch state. As a consequence its possessions in the archipelago passed into the hands of the Dutch crown in 1800.
In the Dutch East Indies, the agricultural system was the Cultivation system, introduced by van den Bosch, in which a villager should provide land rent to the government by setting aside one-fifth of his rice field for the cultivation of specific export crops, such as sugar, coffee, and indigo; or, in the case he possessed no land, he would have to work in a government field for one-fifth of a year (66 days). Labour spent on the cultivation should not exceed the amount needed for producing rice on the same acreage. The villager could own any surplus accrued from the sale of the produce above the prescribed land revenue; however, crop failure resulting from any cause other than the fault of the cultivator was debited to the government.
In practice the system was burdensome. More than one-fifth of the rice fields were used for the growing of export crops, and considerably more than 66 days of labor were required of the landless. Transportation of the produce was difficult and time-consuming. In case of crop failure, the people were left responsible for the loss. Contrary to van den Bosch’s intention, production was also demanded of the people who had paid taxes by working under the Culture System.
During the course of the 18th century the United East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, abbreviated VOC) had established itself as the dominating economic and political power on Java after the crumbling and collapse of the Mataram empire. Even though since the early 1600s, this Dutch trading company had been a major power in Asian trade, but they didn't develop an interest to interfere in indigenous politics on the island of Java until the 18th century, in order to tighten their control on the local economy. However, in 1794, VOC went bankrupt after a slow declination and demise with themismanagement, corruption and fierce competition from the British East India Company, and was nationalized by the Dutch state. As a consequence its possessions in the archipelago passed into the hands of the Dutch crown in 1800.
In the Dutch East Indies, the agricultural system was the Cultivation system, introduced by van den Bosch, in which a villager should provide land rent to the government by setting aside one-fifth of his rice field for the cultivation of specific export crops, such as sugar, coffee, and indigo; or, in the case he possessed no land, he would have to work in a government field for one-fifth of a year (66 days). Labour spent on the cultivation should not exceed the amount needed for producing rice on the same acreage. The villager could own any surplus accrued from the sale of the produce above the prescribed land revenue; however, crop failure resulting from any cause other than the fault of the cultivator was debited to the government.
In practice the system was burdensome. More than one-fifth of the rice fields were used for the growing of export crops, and considerably more than 66 days of labor were required of the landless. Transportation of the produce was difficult and time-consuming. In case of crop failure, the people were left responsible for the loss. Contrary to van den Bosch’s intention, production was also demanded of the people who had paid taxes by working under the Culture System.
6. Portuguese Timor
From the 16th century onwards, East Timor was a Portuguese colony known as Portuguese Timor, lost among a land controlled by the Dutch. Portugal largely neglected the colony, using it mainly as a place to exile those who the government in Lisbon saw as "problems" - these included political prisoners as well as ordinary criminals.
From the 16th century onwards, East Timor was a Portuguese colony known as Portuguese Timor, lost among a land controlled by the Dutch. Portugal largely neglected the colony, using it mainly as a place to exile those who the government in Lisbon saw as "problems" - these included political prisoners as well as ordinary criminals.
7. British Malaya
The British colonized Malaya, just as other colonies, for mainly economic reasons. The economic importance of Malaya to Europe grew rapidly during the 18th century. The fast-growing tea trade between China and the Great Britain increased the demand for high-quality Malayan tin, which was used to line tea-chests. Malayan pepper also had a high reputation in Europe, while Kelantan and Pahang had gold mines. The growth of tin and gold mining, as well as the associated service industries, led to the first influx of immigrants into the Malay world--initially Arabs and Indians, later Chinese--who colonized the towns and soon dominated economic activities. This established a pattern which characterized Malayan society for the next 200 years--a rural Malay population increasingly under the domination of wealthy urban immigrant communities, whose power the Sultans were unable to resist.
In 1824 British hegemony in Malaya (present day Malaysia) was formalized by the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, which divided the Malay archipelago between Britain and the Netherlands. The Dutch evacuated Melaka and renounced all interest in Malaya, while the British recognized Dutch rule over the rest of the East Indies. By 1826, the British controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements.
The British colonized Malaya, just as other colonies, for mainly economic reasons. The economic importance of Malaya to Europe grew rapidly during the 18th century. The fast-growing tea trade between China and the Great Britain increased the demand for high-quality Malayan tin, which was used to line tea-chests. Malayan pepper also had a high reputation in Europe, while Kelantan and Pahang had gold mines. The growth of tin and gold mining, as well as the associated service industries, led to the first influx of immigrants into the Malay world--initially Arabs and Indians, later Chinese--who colonized the towns and soon dominated economic activities. This established a pattern which characterized Malayan society for the next 200 years--a rural Malay population increasingly under the domination of wealthy urban immigrant communities, whose power the Sultans were unable to resist.
In 1824 British hegemony in Malaya (present day Malaysia) was formalized by the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, which divided the Malay archipelago between Britain and the Netherlands. The Dutch evacuated Melaka and renounced all interest in Malaya, while the British recognized Dutch rule over the rest of the East Indies. By 1826, the British controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements.
8. French Indochina--plantations
French Indochina was a federation of French colonies and protectorates in Southeast Asia,consisted of Cochin China, Tonkin, Annam, Laos and Cambodia.
France assumed sovereignty over Annam and Tonkin from the collapsing Qing dynasty after the Franco-Chinese War (1884–1885). French Indochina was originally formed in October 1887, from Annam, Tonkin, Cochin China, and the Kingdom of Cambodia; Laos was added in 1893. The federation lasted until 1954. The French formally left ruling power to the local rulers, such as Emperors of Vietnam, Kings of Cambodia, and Kings of Luang Prabang, but in fact gathered all powers in their hands, acting the local rulers only as figureheads.
Profitwas the real driving factor behind the French colonization of Indochina. Colonial officials and French companies transformed Vietnam’s thriving subsistence economy into a proto-capitalist system, based on land ownership, increased production, exports and low wages. The French built lots of rice, tea and rubber plantations, leaving small land-holders the option of remaining as laborers on these plantations or relocating elsewhere. Where there were labour shortfalls, Viet farmers were recruited en masse from outlying villages either lured by false promises of high wages or conscripted at the point of a gun. The French also constructed factories and built mines to tap into Vietnam’s deposits of coal, tin and zinc. Most of this material was sold abroad as exports – and most of the profits lined the pockets of French capitalists, investors and officials.The workers on these plantations were known as ‘coolies’ (a derogatory term for Asian laborers). They worked long hours in horrible conditionsfor minor wages, some even paid in rice rather than money. were rife on plantations, especially those producing rubber. It was not uncommon for plantations to have several workers die in a single day, because of many factors as malnutrition, dysentery, malaria, and occasional beating from the overseers.
The French also burdened the Vietnamese with an extensive taxation system, as well as state monopolies on rice wine and salt – commodities that were used extensively by locals. French officials and colonists also benefited from growing, selling and exporting the narcotic drug opium.
French Indochina was a federation of French colonies and protectorates in Southeast Asia,consisted of Cochin China, Tonkin, Annam, Laos and Cambodia.
France assumed sovereignty over Annam and Tonkin from the collapsing Qing dynasty after the Franco-Chinese War (1884–1885). French Indochina was originally formed in October 1887, from Annam, Tonkin, Cochin China, and the Kingdom of Cambodia; Laos was added in 1893. The federation lasted until 1954. The French formally left ruling power to the local rulers, such as Emperors of Vietnam, Kings of Cambodia, and Kings of Luang Prabang, but in fact gathered all powers in their hands, acting the local rulers only as figureheads.
Profitwas the real driving factor behind the French colonization of Indochina. Colonial officials and French companies transformed Vietnam’s thriving subsistence economy into a proto-capitalist system, based on land ownership, increased production, exports and low wages. The French built lots of rice, tea and rubber plantations, leaving small land-holders the option of remaining as laborers on these plantations or relocating elsewhere. Where there were labour shortfalls, Viet farmers were recruited en masse from outlying villages either lured by false promises of high wages or conscripted at the point of a gun. The French also constructed factories and built mines to tap into Vietnam’s deposits of coal, tin and zinc. Most of this material was sold abroad as exports – and most of the profits lined the pockets of French capitalists, investors and officials.The workers on these plantations were known as ‘coolies’ (a derogatory term for Asian laborers). They worked long hours in horrible conditionsfor minor wages, some even paid in rice rather than money. were rife on plantations, especially those producing rubber. It was not uncommon for plantations to have several workers die in a single day, because of many factors as malnutrition, dysentery, malaria, and occasional beating from the overseers.
The French also burdened the Vietnamese with an extensive taxation system, as well as state monopolies on rice wine and salt – commodities that were used extensively by locals. French officials and colonists also benefited from growing, selling and exporting the narcotic drug opium.
French Influence
French colonialism did provide some benefits for Vietnamese society, the most significant one being education. French missionaries, officials and their families opened primary schools, conducting lessons in both the French and Viet languages. However, there was little or no attempt to educate the children of peasant farmers. These schools reinforced colonial control by stressing the supremacy of French values and culture. Colonialism also produced a physical transformation in Vietnamese cities, declaring traditional local temples, monuments and houses, some of which had stood for a millennium, derelict. Destroyed, they were soon replaced by French style buildings. |
9. Siam: buffer in between
In 1782, there began the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I, which rules to this day. Siam's new capital of Bangkok founded. During 1804-1868 King Mongkut (Rama IV) ruled, who embraces Western innovations and initiates Thailand's modernization. The bright leaders somehow managed to keep the nation the only independent nation in Southeast Asia, submerged in an era of European colonization. Being between British Burma and French Indochina, it was a buffer between the two rival nations.
In 1782, there began the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I, which rules to this day. Siam's new capital of Bangkok founded. During 1804-1868 King Mongkut (Rama IV) ruled, who embraces Western innovations and initiates Thailand's modernization. The bright leaders somehow managed to keep the nation the only independent nation in Southeast Asia, submerged in an era of European colonization. Being between British Burma and French Indochina, it was a buffer between the two rival nations.