<P> Southeast Asia was under Southern Indian (Dravidian) influence starting around 200 BC until around the 15th century, when Buddhist influence was absorbed by local politics . Kingdoms in the south east coast of the Indian Subcontinent had established trade, cultural and political relations with Southeast Asian kingdoms in Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Malay Peninsula, Cambodia and, to a lesser extent, Vietnam . Unlike the Hindu kingdoms within the Indian sub-continent, the Tamil kingdoms of the southeastern coast of the peninsula did not have culture restrictions on crossing the sea . This led to more exchanges through the sea routes into Southeast Asia . Whereas Buddhism thrived and became the main religion in many countries of the Southeast Asia, it died off on the Indian subcontinent . </P> <P> The peoples of maritime Southeast Asia--present day Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines--are thought to have migrated southwards from southern China sometime between 2500 and 1500 BC . The influence of the civilization of the subcontinent gradually became predominant among them, and among the peoples of the Southeast Asian mainland . Tamil traders, adventurers, teachers and priests continued to be the dominating influence in Southeast Asia until about 1500 CE, and Tamil kings often ruled the earliest states in these regions . Hinduism and Buddhism both spread to these states from India and for many centuries existed there with mutual toleration . Eventually the states of the mainland became mainly Buddhist . </P>

Other states in southeast asia that were influenced by india include