Which is the main reason that port cities in Southeast Asia were important centers of culture?

which time period is this? or is this story fictional, i'm going to need more info to answer this question

the  equal rights amendment  (era) states: "equality  of  rights  under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of sex." congress first introduced the era in 1923, but the campaign for ratification took off in the 1960s during the  civil rightsmovement.