Category: Cambodia

Around 1,200 stone inscriptions have been discovered in the Angkor region, written in Sanskrit, Khmer, and later Pali, the classical language of Buddhism. The bas-reliefs at the Bayon temple also offer vivid snapshots of everyday Khmer life. However, no books from Angkor have survived. The sole detailed written account of Angkorian life comes from The […]

Jayavarman VII (r. 1181–1218) is considered the most influential of the Khmer kings, bringing the Angkor Empire to its peak of power and territorial reach, but also perhaps signaling its eventual overreach. He assumed the throne later in life, following a turbulent period marked by two Cham invasions—one by land in 1177 and another by […]

Jayavarman II’s legacy was carried forward by his son, Jayavarman III (r. 835–877), and subsequently by Indravarman I (r. 877–889), who became Angkor’s first great builder. Indravarman constructed the Indratataka baray (reservoir) at Roluos and commissioned the magnificent temples of Preah Ko and Bakong, both of which surpassed any previous religious structures in mainland Southeast […]

Following the reign of Queen Jayadevi, Chenla gradually splintered, entering a period of political disarray that lasted nearly a century. The unification of the Khmer states began under Jayavarman II (r. 802–835), originally a noble or minor ruler from southeastern Cambodia. Jayavarman, along with his followers, journeyed northwest across the land, consolidating control over former […]

After Funan’s decline, Khmer influence appears to have shifted in the late 6th century to the enigmatic kingdom of Chenla (also known as “Zhenla”). Like Funan, Chenla was likely not a single, centralized state but rather a loose federation of smaller fiefdoms. Historical records are scarce, and even Chenla’s exact boundaries are uncertain. It likely […]

The first extensive civilization in Cambodia emerged in the 1st century AD, known as Funan, centered in the Mekong Delta and extending over what is now southern Vietnam and southeastern Cambodia. Despite its significance, much about Funan remains unclear, with only limited records from Chinese merchants and travelers, which may be unreliable. It’s uncertain whether […]

  The history of Cambodia is challenging to study due to limited historical records. During the Angkor period, temple libraries held texts on tanned skins or palm leaves. Unfortunately, these were not preserved by later generations, and none remain today. While stone steles at temples recorded details mainly related to temple activities, they ceased being […]