Histrica
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Southeast Asia

Cambodia

Heir to the Khmer Empire, whose Angkor was the largest preindustrial city in the world.

Overview

Cambodia's history includes the Indianized kingdoms of Funan and Chenla and the extraordinary Khmer Empire, whose 12th-century Angkor Wat remains the largest religious monument on Earth.

Basic Information

CapitalPhnom Penh
Population17 million
Area181,035 km²
CurrencyRiel (KHR)
LanguagesKhmer
RegionSoutheast Asia

History Timeline

  1. c. 100 – 550 CEFunan kingdom
  2. 802 – 1431Khmer Empire
  3. c. 1150Construction of Angkor Wat
  4. 1863 – 1953French protectorate
  5. 1975 – 1979Khmer Rouge regime

Ancient Peoples

  • Khmer
  • Chams
  • Mon

Ancient Kingdoms

  • Funan
  • Chenla

Empires

  • Khmer Empire

Religions

  • Theravada Buddhism
  • Hinduism (historical)

Culture

Classical dance (Robam Preah Reach Trop), Angkorian temple architecture.

Language

Khmer is an Austroasiatic language written in a Brahmic script.

Important Battles

  • Sack of Angkor1431

    Ayutthayan conquest

Historical Figures

Jayavarman VII
1181 – 1218

Khmer god-king and Buddhist patron

Archaeological Sites

  • Angkor Wat
  • Angkor Thom
  • Bayon
  • Preah Vihear

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

  • Angkor
  • Preah Vihear Temple
  • Sambor Prei Kuk

Dynasties

  • Angkorian kings

Colonial Period

French protectorate 1863 – 1953.

Modern History

Constitutional monarchy since 1993.