The Khmer Empire and Angkor
A Southeast Asian empire centred on Angkor in present-day Cambodia, known for its temple complexes, its engineered water systems and its inscriptions in Sanskrit and Old Khmer.
- Region
- Present-day Cambodia and parts of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
- Period
- 802 – 15th century
- Capital
- Angkor
- Heritage status
- Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed 1992
Key takeaways
- Founding: Jayavarman II established the kingdom in 802.
- Temples: Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II, and the Bayon under Jayavarman VII at the end of the century.
- Water: a network of canals and reservoirs (barays) supported rice farming and a large urban population.
- Religion: rulers supported Hindu and later Buddhist traditions, recorded in inscriptions.
- Shift: Angkor was gradually abandoned as a capital in the 15th century, though it remained a religious site.
Landscape and city
Angkor was a low-density city spread over hundreds of square kilometres. Recent laser-scanning surveys have revealed its roads, canals and settlement patterns beyond the great temples.
Inscriptions and society
Thousands of stone inscriptions record gifts, laws and the organisation of temples, giving a detailed view of labour, land and ritual. Bas-reliefs show daily life, war and markets.
Why it shifted
Scholars point to a combination of changing climate, stress on water systems, wars and the growth of maritime trade in the south as reasons for the shift of the capital.
References
- UNESCO, History of Humanity, Vol. IV [Tier 1]
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Angkor
- EHESS, École des hautes études en sciences sociales
- Journal of Asian Studies (Cambridge)