Southeast Asia Map - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand

Countries in the Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Southeast Asia is composed of eleven countries of impressive diversity in religion, culture and history. There are many different languages and ethnicities in the region. Historically, Southeast Asia was significantly influenced by India, China, Muslim, and colonial cultures. Most modern Southeast Asian countries were colonized by European countries.

By 400 BCE, the region came under contact with the Indian culture such as religions, architecture, and political administration, which were brought by traders and religious figures and adopted by local rulers. By the fifth century CE, trade between East and West was concentrated in the maritime route. The Arabs dominated the Indian Ocean after the 8th century. The Portuguese came in the late 15th century and took over the commerce in the region in the early 16th century.