Cambodia: Political History and Notable People

802 - 1431 - Khmer Empire / Angkor Kingdom (All Facts)

• Kingdom situated near the Mekong River

• Kingdom which did not depend on maritime prowess for its power

  • Its complex irrigation and drainage systems led to economic prosperity, making it one of the most prosperous kingdoms in Southeast Asia

  • Irrigation allowed its farmers to harvest rice crops several times a year

  • Drainage systems reduced the impact of the heavy monsoon rains

• Its capital was at Angkor Thom

  • Its temples were culturally influenced by India, in which Hindu artwork and and sculptures of deities were abundant

• Kingdom which is most famous for its ornate and majestic Buddhist temple complex of Angkor Wat

• Its magnificent structures from Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat still stand in ruins, testifying not only to the sophistication of Southeast Asian culture but also to the powerful influence of Indian culture on the region

• By the 1100s, it reached its peak and had went from being a Hindu Empire to a Buddhist Empire, in which Buddhist sculptures and artwork were added to its temples without destroying any of the previous Hindu sculptures and artwork

1113 - 1150 - Suryavarman II (All Facts)

• Ruler of the Khmer Empire

• He extended the frontiers of the Khmer Empire beyond those of any other monarch

• He oversaw the commission, construction, and completion of Angkor Wat; which served as the namesake’s funeral temple

  • Its size alone made it suitable for the King’s military accomplishments and legacy

1434 - Main Events

• The capital of the Khmer Empire was moved from Angkor to Phnom Penh

1659 - Main Events

• The English factors of the East India Company’s Cambodian factory were forced by an Annamite (Vietnamese) invasion to flee the country