Question

“Indian Culture had an impact on Southeast Asia.” Think and elaborate on the statement.

Answer 1

Instructions:
Describe the Impact of Indian culture on Southeast Asian countries during Ancient times.

• Establishment of the small Southeast Asian kingdoms by Indian Origin people.
• Dance and dramas based on Indian epics.
• Spread of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Solution:

Indian culture had a profound impact on the art and cultural life of Southeast Asia.

• The establishment of small kingdoms by people of Indian origin helped the spread of Indian culture in Southeast Asia. For example, the spread of Sanskrit in Funan(Cambodia).
• Dance-dramas based on stories from the Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata are popular in Indonesia even today.
• There was widespread Buddhism in Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries in the ancient period. Later, temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu were also constructed.