Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
The concept of a Malay race was originally proposed by the German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752–1840), and classified as the brown race. Since Blumenbach, many anthropologists have rejected his theory of five races, citing the enormous complexity of classifying races. The concept of a 'Malay race' differs with that of the ethnic Malays centered around Malaysian Malay Peninsula and parts of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.<br/><br/>The term Malay race was commonly used in the late 19th century and early 20th century to describe the Austronesian peoples.
The Karen or Kayin people (Pwa Ka Nyaw Poe or Kanyaw in Sgaw Karen and Ploan in Poe Karen; Kariang or Yang in Thai), are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma (Myanmar).<br/><br/> The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people. A large number of Karen also reside in Thailand, mostly on the Thai-Burmese border.<br/><br/> The Karen are often confused with the Red Karen (or Karenni). One subgroup of the Karenni, the Padaung tribe from the border region of Burma and Thailand, are best known for the neck rings worn by the women of this group of people.<br/><br/> Karen legends refer to a 'river of running sand' which ancestors reputedly crossed. Many Karen think this refers to the Gobi Desert, although they have lived in Burma for centuries.<br/><br/> The Karen constitute the biggest ethnic population in Burma after the Bamars and Shans.
The Karen or Kayin people (Pwa Ka Nyaw Poe or Kanyaw in Sgaw Karen and Ploan in Poe Karen; Kariang or Yang in Thai), are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma (Myanmar).<br/><br/> The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people. A large number of Karen also reside in Thailand, mostly on the Thai-Burmese border.<br/><br/> The Karen are often confused with the Red Karen (or Karenni). One subgroup of the Karenni, the Padaung tribe from the border region of Burma and Thailand, are best known for the neck rings worn by the women of this group of people.<br/><br/> Karen legends refer to a 'river of running sand' which ancestors reputedly crossed. Many Karen think this refers to the Gobi Desert, although they have lived in Burma for centuries.<br/><br/> The Karen constitute the biggest ethnic population in Burma after the Bamars and Shans.
Located in the northeast of the country, Shan State covers one-quarter of Burma’s land mass. It was traditionally separated into principalities and is mostly comprised of ethnic Shan, Burman Pa-O, Intha, Taungyo, Danu, Palaung and Kachin peoples.<br/><br/> The ethnic Tai-Shan people are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in China. The Shan are descendants of the oldest branch of the Tai-Shan, known as ‘Tai Long’ (Great Tai) or ‘Thai Yai’ (Big Thai). The Tai-Shan who migrated to the south and now inhabit modern-day Laos and Thailand are known as ‘Tai Noi’ (Little Tai) or ‘Tai Nyai’.<br/><br/> The Shan have inhabited the Shan Plateau and other parts of modern-day Myanmar as far back as the 10th century CE. The Shan kingdom of Mong Mao (Muang Mao) existed as early as the 10th century CE, but became a Burmese vassal state during the reign of King Anawrahta of Pagan (1044-1077).
Located in the northeast of the country, Shan State covers one-quarter of Burma’s land mass. It was traditionally separated into principalities and is mostly comprised of ethnic Shan, Burman Pa-O, Intha, Taungyo, Danu, Palaung and Kachin peoples.<br/><br/> The ethnic Tai-Shan people are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in China. The Shan are descendants of the oldest branch of the Tai-Shan, known as ‘Tai Long’ (Great Tai) or ‘Thai Yai’ (Big Thai). The Tai-Shan who migrated to the south and now inhabit modern-day Laos and Thailand are known as ‘Tai Noi’ (Little Tai) or ‘Tai Nyai’.<br/><br/> The Shan have inhabited the Shan Plateau and other parts of modern-day Myanmar as far back as the 10th century CE. The Shan kingdom of Mong Mao (Muang Mao) existed as early as the 10th century CE, but became a Burmese vassal state during the reign of King Anawrahta of Pagan (1044-1077).
Located in the northeast of the country, Shan State covers one-quarter of Burma’s land mass. It was traditionally separated into principalities and is mostly comprised of ethnic Shan, Burman Pa-O, Intha, Taungyo, Danu, Palaung and Kachin peoples.<br/><br/> The ethnic Tai-Shan people are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in China. The Shan are descendants of the oldest branch of the Tai-Shan, known as ‘Tai Long’ (Great Tai) or ‘Thai Yai’ (Big Thai). The Tai-Shan who migrated to the south and now inhabit modern-day Laos and Thailand are known as ‘Tai Noi’ (Little Tai) or ‘Tai Nyai’.<br/><br/> The Shan have inhabited the Shan Plateau and other parts of modern-day Myanmar as far back as the 10th century CE. The Shan kingdom of Mong Mao (Muang Mao) existed as early as the 10th century CE, but became a Burmese vassal state during the reign of King Anawrahta of Pagan (1044-1077).
The Stieng people (Vietnamese: Xtieng) are an ethnic group of Vietnam and Cambodia that speak a Bahnaric language of Mon-Khmer roots. Most Stieng live in Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province in southeastern Vietnam. In Cambodia, they are grouped under the heading ‘Khmer Loeu’, referring to non-Khmer ethnic groups, or Degar peoples. Nowadays, many Stieng have converted to Christianity, though the total population of the group is estimated at just 6,000.
This illustration by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he produced during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
Built in 1834, the majestic Muslim tower, or 'suen', is located on the banks of the Mekong River in the village of Svay Kleang, which has been the heart of Cambodia’s minority Muslim community for centuries and played a key part in the Cham Rebellion against the Khmer Rouge in 1975. The Cham are an Austronesian people who probably migrated from Borneo. The Champa Kingdom peaked in the 9th century when it controlled the lands between Hue in central Annam to the Mekong Delta in Cochinchina. Champa's prosperity came from maritime trade in sandalwood and slaves, and probably piracy.
This watercolor by Arnold Borret (1848-88) consists of small sketches of different members of society and their various ethnic backgrounds in the Dutch colony of Suriname in the 1880s. Borret was an accomplished amateur artist who was also a lawyer and a Roman Catholic priest. He studied law at the University of Leiden and practiced in Rotterdam before becoming a clerk, in 1878, to the Supreme Court in Paramaribo. He became a priest in 1883, with the intention of working with lepers in Suriname. He died of typhus in 1888.<br/><br/> The smallest country in South America, Suriname's diversity began in the 16th century when French, Spanish and English explorers visited the area. A century later, plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains.<br/><br/> Disputes arose—as ever—between the Dutch and the English. In 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname from the English, resulting from the Treaty of Breda. The English were left with New Amsterdam, a small trading post in North America, which later became New York City.<br/><br/> As a plantation colony, Surinam was still heavily dependent on manual labor, and to make up for the shortfall, the Dutch brought in contract laborers from the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (through an arrangement with the British). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of mostly men were brought in from China and the Middle East. Although Suriname's population remains relatively small, because of this unique history it is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world.
This sketch by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he drew during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
The Nyahuen or Hyanon are a Mon-Khmer ethnic group of about 5,000 persons who inhabit about 30 villages in Champasak province in southern Laos. The Nyahuen are strongly animist with spirits and shamans being consulted for virtually every decision. The Nyahon believe each person has seven different souls. They especially revere a spirit called 'Brrah'. Other spirits of nature include the spirit of trees, water, rice fields, thunder and mountains. Shamans, or spirit priests, conduct regular ceremonies where they make sacrifices and offer up prayers to protective spirits. Offended spirits are identified by a ritual involving rice and the organs of a chicken. Special ceremonies are held in the event of a natural disaster or epidemic.
The Wanniyala-Aetto, or 'forest people', more commonly known as Veddas or Veddahs, are an indigenous people of Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean; they were never numerous and are now few in number.<br/><br/> Sri Lanka had always been an important port and trading post in the ancient world, and was increasingly frequented by merchant ships from the Middle East, Persia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The islands were known to the first European explorers of South Asia and settled by many groups of Arab and Malay merchants.<br/><br/> A Portuguese colonial mission arrived on the island in 1505 headed by Lourenço de Almeida, the son of Francisco de Almeida. At that point the island consisted of three kingdoms, namely Kandy in the central hills, Kotte at the Western coast, and Yarlpanam (Anglicised Jaffna) in the north. The Dutch arrived in the 17th century. The British East India Company took over the coastal regions controlled by the Dutch in 1796, and in 1802 these provinces were declared a crown colony under direct rule of the British government, therefore the island was not part of the British Raj. The annexation of the Kingdom of Kandy in 1815 by the Kandyan convention, unified the island under British rule.<br/><br/> European colonists established a series of cinnamon, sugar, coffee, indigo cultivation followed by tea and rubber plantations and graphite mining. The British also brought a large number of indentured workers from Tamil Nadu to work in the plantation economy. The city of Colombo was developed as the administrative centre and commercial heart with its harbor, and the British established modern schools, colleges, roads and churches that introduced Western culture.<br/><br/> On 4 February 1948 the country gained its independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. It changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972.
The French Mekong Expedition (1866-68) voyaged upriver on the Mekong River through Indochina until it reached the Chinese frontier in December 1867. Crossing into Yunnan, the expedition encountered various indigenous peoples, including Muslims (bottom row) in Dali.
In Cambodia, Islam is the religion of the majority of Cham people and some Malay minorities. In 1975, there were reportedly 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims nationwide. However, persecution under the Khmer Rouge severely eroded their numbers. In 2009, the Pew Research Center estimated the Muslim population of Cambodia at 236,000. All of the Cham Muslims are Sunnis of the Shafi'i school. There is also a growing Ahmadiyya Muslim community in the country.
This sketch by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he drew during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
The Bru, or Brao, are an ethnic group living in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Nowadays there are few known Bru, if any, in Cambodia. They speak Bru, a Mon-Khmer language, which has several dialects. Their total population is estimated at 130,000. In Laos, most Bru live in eastern Savannakhet Province in the Sepone District, in the Isaan region. In Thailand, most Bru live in Sakon Nakhon Province, in the Isaan region of northeast Thailand. In Vietnam, most Bru live in the Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Dak Lak and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
The Khwarezm Shahs were a Persianate Turkish Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled over Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and western Afghanistan from a succession of capitals at Urgench, Samarkand, Ghazni and Tabriz.<br/><br/> Trade contacts between the Khwarezmids and China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279) were maintained via the Silk Road as well as by sea, but while Chinese porcelain techniques and designs strongly influenced Islamic potters, there is little indication of Chinese artistic influence on Iran and Central Asia through paintings.<br/><br/> In 1218 Genghis Khan sent ambassadors to Khwarezm, but they were seized and executed, prompting a Mongol invasion in 1220 that captured Bukhara, Urgench and Samarkand, resulting in the total destruction of the Khwarezmian state.
This painting by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he drew during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
In Cambodia, Islam is the religion of the majority of Cham people and some Malay minorities. In 1975, there were reportedly 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims nationwide. However, persecution under the Khmer Rouge severely eroded their numbers. In 2009, the Pew Research Center estimated the Muslim population of Cambodia at 236,000. All of the Cham Muslims are Sunnis of the Shafi'i school. There is also a growing Ahmadiyya Muslim community in the country.
This sketch by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he drew during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
The Stieng people (Vietnamese: Xtieng) are an ethnic group of Vietnam and Cambodia that speak a Bahnaric language of Mon-Khmer roots. Most Stieng live in Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province in southeastern Vietnam. In Cambodia, they are grouped under the heading ‘Khmer Loeu’, referring to non-Khmer ethnic groups, or Degar peoples. Nowadays, many Stieng have converted to Christianity, though the total population of the group is estimated at just 6,000.
This drawing depicts 13 persons (two additionally in profile) of different ethnicity that a French expedition encountered in the Mekong valley from 1866 to 1868. Beginning in Vietnam, the woman top-left is from Annam (central Vietnam). Moving geographically upriver on the Mekong, the artist sketched portraits of ethnic persons in southern Vietnam, Cambodia, to the man in a white turban (bottom-right) from Upper Laos.
Simao District, formerly known as Cuiyun District, is a township under the jurisdiction of Pu'er Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It is located near the Myanmar border.
This sketch by Louis Delaporte is one of dozens he drew during his two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission sponsored by the French Ministry of the Navy, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Traveling the Mekong by boat, the small French delegation voyaged from Saigon to Phnom Penh to Luang Prabang, then farther north into the uncharted waters of Upper Laos and China's Yunnan province, before returning to Hanoi in 1868 by foot, accompanied by porters and elephants.
The Shan, or 'Tai Yai' (Great Thai) are a prominent ethnic group in northern Burma and northwestern Thailand. Linguistically very similar to the Siamese, who were known as the 'Tai Noi' (Small Tai), the Shan migrated to the region through Laos from Yunnan in China over at least the past 1,000 years. The Shan have inhabited the mountainous Shan Plateau of Myanmar since as far back as the 10th century CE.
The Bru, or Brao, are an ethnic group living in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Nowadays there are few known Bru, if any, in Cambodia. They speak Bru, a Mon-Khmer language, which has several dialects. Their total population is estimated at 130,000. In Laos, most Bru live in eastern Savannakhet Province in the Sepone District, in the Isaan region. In Thailand, most Bru live in Sakon Nakhon Province, in the Isaan region of northeast Thailand. In Vietnam, most Bru live in the Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Dak Lak and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.