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សាកលវិទ្យាល័យ ប៊ែលធី អន្តរជាតិ

BELTEI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT
Subject: Khmer History
Topic: Angkorian Era
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IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

BACHELOR'S DEGREE
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 PREFACE

This major assignment was assigned by Mr. Heng Chhunlay, lecturer of

Khmer History to improve students’ knowledge and know clearly about Khmer
empire in the past. This assignment is the achievement a very careful with the
program of the university for my assignment scores. It is remaining as good
example to students of next generations.
This research assignment will play an important reference for other
students, or researchers. It is also proving our hardship in our studies so far
The approach to writing the book has been very much to research in other
website and numerous document. This may or may not be justified, but I have
attempted to treat each subject in a way that is accessible to, and
understandable by an intelligent non – specialist.
I would welcome all comments texts, particularly if you feel that this could
be better achieved. Therefore, all learners, students, every individual who are
interested in learning and developing their studies and knowledge will find this
research assignment useful. I welcome all constructive criticisms and
suggestion from all my reader in order to refine and improve my work.

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 ACKNOWLEDEGMENT

I would like to express my deep gratitude for H.E Dr. LY CHHENG, who have made a great
effort to research let documents, compile books to serve as a nursery for us, studying and
towards the bright future.
I would like to express our deep gratitude for the the future of global leaders for afforcing the
proper discipline in accordance with the university's policies and was providing affirmation for
me. In particular, I would like to express our deep gratitude for Lecturer, Mr. Heng Chhunlay
who teaches Video Documentary, striving to find all the ways to explain and how to understand
the key words of the video documentary, easy and quick access to knowledge. I have hand bard
every day to carry out the work of Lecturer Mr. Heng Chhunlay assigned task and responsibility
for this research.
Finally, all best wishes to H.E - Excellency, Lok Chumteav, Ladies and Gentlemen, and all
families, cave achieved their full potential for their daily life and their success in life for
everlasting.

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 Contents

I. Introduction................................................................................................................page6

II. Angkorian Khmer Civilization..................................................................................page7

III. Administration...........................................................................................................page9

IV. Culture and Society....................................................................................................page10

V. Economic and Arts.....................................................................................................page12

VI. History........................................................................................................................page13

VII. The fall and the end of Angkor..................................................................................page18

VIII. Photos memories........................................................................................................page20

IX. Reference...................................................................................................................page22

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 I. Introduction
The Khmer Empire , or Angkorian period , was one of the most powerful kingdoms
in Southeast Asia . Modern Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia became their own
republics.The greatest heritage of this empire was Angkor, the resort of the capital city during
the peak of this empire. Angkor is a testament to the wealth and great influence of the Khmer
Empire, as well as the diversity of belief systems that supported it in the past. The official
religions of the empire included Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, followed by widespread
Theravada Buddhism among the lower classes, and later Theravada teachings came from Sri
Lanka in the 13th century.Modern satellite research shows that Angkor was the world's largest
pre-industrial city. History of Angkor as the center of the settlement of the Kingdom History of
Cambodia is also Khmer history from the 9th to 13th centuries.From Cambodia itself - and also
from the Angkor area - there are no surviving records other than inscriptions. Therefore, the new
knowledge of historical Khmer civilization must be taken from:

1. Archaeological excavations, reconstruction and survey

2. Inscriptions (most importantly the foundations of some temples) that report on the
religious and political rites of the kings
3. Many reliefs continue on the walls of the temple, along with descriptions of military
parades in the palace, market views and the daily lives of the people.
4. Report and chronology of Chinese diplomats, businessmen and travelers.

The beginnings of the Khmer Empire are dated to 802 AD. In that year, Jayavarman II
proclaimed himself Chakravartin ស្ដេច ៑ (King of the World or King of Kings) on Mount Kulen.

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 II. Angkorian Khmer Civilization
In the Angkorian period, Khmer was known as a superpower in Southeast Asia. Therefore,
Khmer civilization reached its peak in the 9th to 13th centuries. This splendor is marked by the
vast expanse of almost the whole of Indochina, by the thousands of rock temples with
astonishing designs, with numerous inscriptions in both Sanskrit and ancient Khmer, or
Sometimes the two languages are mixed with all kinds of statues and other archeological sites,
and especially with the most important artifacts that remain to this day, such as barays, dams,
aqueducts, roads, bridges. Etc. However, from the first half of the 13th century AD, the decline
began gradually until the capital of Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century by King Chao
Ponhea Yat. Next, we try to show a picture (as much as possible) of Cambodian society in that
glorious era.

 Politics and Administration

1. King
By celebrating the Devaraja ceremony, the king must have the same status as the deity . His
capital represents the entire universe : the mountain temple in the center of the
city symbolizes Mount Sumeru , considered the core of the universe, the
walls and moat symbolize the mountains and seas that surround Mount Sumeru. The temple of
the mountain for placing the penis of the Devaraja can only be used by a king, when he dies, the
temple will become his tomb. Chiv Ta Kwan, who visited Cambodia in the late 13th century,
described the king's departure in a very interesting way. In front of the procession were soldiers ,
followed by flag bearers and musicians. Then there are the three hundred to five hundred
women, who are clothed in fine linen, with garlands of leaves, with flowers in their hair , and
candles in their hands , which are to be lit during the day . Then there are women who
wear royal jewelry made of gold and silver , and all kinds of ornaments. Next, another group of
female bodyguards walked with spears and shields . Next were goats ' chariots , horse-drawn
carriages, all adorned with gold , and princes and nobles , all of whom rode elephants in the
distance and saw a large number of red cloaks. After them were the king's wife and concubine ,
who rode on chariots , horses , and elephants, and had more than a hundred gold-
plated clasps . The ivory is all covered with gold. The king's cloak has more than twenty white
and gold cloaks, and many times it is covered with gold. Many other elephants accompany him
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and other soldiers guard him. Prince. Anyone who sees the king must kneel and bow his head to
the ground.

2. Royal power
According to Tev Reach, the power of a king comes from a deity . He has power over all
land: the sale, exchange or gift of land must be approved by him. The king has a wide range of
powers: he is the legislator, the one who chooses senior officials, the [commander in chief of the
army , the one who holds foreign policy ( foreign ambassadors must come to him) as the judge.
If the people want to) be a clergyman (appointing high priests and presiding at
various religious ceremonies ), protecting the country from external enemies and
ensuring inner peace . It should be noted that the king was not only the commander-in-chief,
but also the commander-in-chief who led the army out to fight the enemy in battle . Many
inscriptions praise the king's military prowess , saying that he was always strong and victorious
over the enemy. In the battle for power, it spreads territory according to theology. The sculptures
on the walls of the temples ( Angkor Wat and Bayon ) show that the Khmer army of that
generation had infantry, cavalry , elephants and navy , and also showed that there was a force to
provide food. On the other hand, according to the same statue, it can be seen that the Khmer
army of that time must have been very orderly and disciplined . Inscriptions state that the
insurgency was severely suppressed, and that soldiers of national merit were exalted to the
maximum (the case of the four emperors of Jayavarman VII ) by erecting statues. And temples
for remembrance. The fact that the kings of the Angkorian period had a wide range of powers did
not mean that he was a dictator, because he had to respect the discipline of the royal class ,
respect for religious teachings , which meant that he had to be full of royal splendor . The third
bull inscription says of Indravarman I : Indravarman made the people happy by practicing the
three rules. To the people, the king is always compassionate and just. Jayavarman VII strived to
achieve this ideal under the strong influence of Buddhism . Hospital Inscription He said: The
sickness of the people afflict him more than his own, for this is the public affliction, and this is
the affliction of God, not of his own. It hurts him.

3. Succession
According to the principle, the eldest son can succeed the father, but without a son, any
relative can ascend the throne. There are two opposing views on the succession of the throne :
some believe that only relatives related to the king can succeed the king, others disagree, but
ordered that only relatives related to the king. With the previous king or to take a queen, any
woman in the family of the previous king can take the throne. In case the king receives the
throne and is still too young, the state affairs are the responsibility of the royal teacher .

4.The entourage
carved on the walls of Angkor Wat shows King Suryavarman II sitting on the throne,
receiving greetings from his entourage, including the royal family, high-ranking officials,
both civilian and military, and a large number of staff. The king lived in a palace made of
wood. Chiv Ta Kwan was amazed at the splendor and luxury of the palace, especially the
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 courtroom, which had golden windows, and to the right and left were square pillars lined
with glass . Etc.

III. Administration

1. Central Administration
State control must be in the hands of a small group of aristocrats. The highest positions were
given to the royal family, while the position of priest, the celebrant of the Devaraja, the royal
teacher was given to some members of the Brahmin clan, who preferred to continue the position
by counting relatives on the female line. The queens and the Brahmins are the upper classes,
apart from the common people, the intellectual class and the representatives of Indian
civilization. These two upper classes are often allied with each other. The nobles or the people
who came to me had to wait for him by sitting on the ground. When he arrives, both the officials
and the people must raise their hands and bow down. In the central administration, there are
many high-ranking officials, some of whom serve as advisors, some of whom are in charge of
the palace or army and stand guard in the provinces, while the lower ranks are recruited by senior
officials. Still serving them. Signs are distinguished by the type of bed (gold or silver) and the
number of clasps (gold or silver).

2. Regional Administration
In the regional administration, there are many levels of officials, from inspectors (royal
authorities?), Provincial governors, district chiefs, village chiefs, warehouse chiefs, chiefs (?)
Chiefs (chiefs?). Etc. Women also play a very important role: some as prophets, others as court
judges. As for the swearing-in of officials to be loyal to the King, it is not known whether this is
a general measure or just a way to bind officials to the King when he ascends the throne
illegally?

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 IV. Culture and society

Ancient Khmer can be known through many inscriptions and biographies of Chiv Ta
Kwan. The ancient Khmer relied heavily on rice cultivation. Farmers grew rice along the Tonle
Sap Lake and in the hills during the floods. Also. In the villages, palm trees, fruit trees and
vegetables are also planted. Fish is the main source of protein. People process fish into prahok or
grilled steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves. Rice is also a major food source. They raise
cattle, pigs, chickens and ducks under the house because their houses are often built to prevent
flooding. Farmers' houses are built near rice fields on the outskirts of the city. The house is
divided into three parts by bamboo walls, one part is the parents' room, one part is the daughter's
room and the largest part is the living room. The son does not have his own room, so he has to
sleep wherever he can. The kitchen is at the back of the house or in a separate room. Kings and
nobles lived in palaces and large houses in the city. The palaces or houses are made of the same
materials as ordinary people's houses, but they are different in that they use wooden tiles and are
decorated with luxurious ornaments and have many rooms. Ordinary people wear skirts with the
front end pulled between their legs and tied back with a belt. The nobles and kings wore fine
linen. Women wore skirts to cover their breasts, while aristocratic women wore long skirts that
covered their shoulders. Men and women wear scarves. The main religion is Hinduism, followed
by Buddhism. Vishnu and Shiva are popular deities.

 Other religions and doctrines

1. Religion
In the Angkorian period, religion played an important role in politics, but the religion of the
ruling class was never unified, but changed according to individual preferences: some kings
practiced Iso, some kings practiced Vishnu, some kings held Vishnu. Brahmanism and some
Buddhism. For such incidents, Mr. Sil Veng Levy (Sylvain Levi) that is born from the structure
of Cambodian society. After all, in those days’ religion was considered an imported commodity
or a noble culture only for kings and nobles, and less so in the lower classes of society, who still
maintained superstitious beliefs. And so on. When Chiv Ta Kwan came to Cambodia, he noticed
that people worshiped the stone that Paul Pelliot thought was the penis of the god Iso, but in fact
it was the Nek Ta stone. From the 9th to the 11th century CE, Sivanism was superior to other
sects because most kings considered it the religion of the state by celebrating the Devaraja.
Represented in the temple. However, during this period, it was observed that the kings always
took care of and supported other religions that coexisted harmoniously (Syncretisme religieux)
with inscriptions and statues. Except in the reign of King Udayadityavarman II, when there were
three uprisings, the rebels were seen walking to destroy Sivaling and Deva statues. In the 12th
century, Vishnuism was revered by King Suryavarman II, as evidenced by the temples of Angkor
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Wat. Angkor Wat is still in the shape of a mountain temple, but is used to house Vishnu statues,
and the designs are all Vishnu-style (statues, Reamker, Moha Phearat, Ko Samuth Tuek,
etc.). This is because at the same time in other countries, Vishnu is also revered. From now on, it
is seen that Mahayana Buddhism, which was introduced since the Chenla period (8th century
AD) and which had already been held by King Suryavarman I (11th century AD), was raised by
the king. Promoted as a religion for the state, especially during the reign of Jayavarman VII. The
Bayon temple that he built is still in the shape of a mountain temple and is located in the center
of the capital, but the symbol of the king is the Buddha statue (Buddha Reach). Why is there
such a change? The conquest of Angkor by Cham troops in AD 1177, and for the first time, it
was a serious attack on the Tev Reach doctrine. The people probably no longer wanted to believe
in the effectiveness of this doctrine, but the Brahmins and their entourage were still very
influential, so Jayavarman VII realized that he had to keep some old things (could not get rid of
them immediately). No) and use some new things to give hope to the people by combining some
elements of Siva (mountain temple) and some Buddhism (Buddha). Thus we see that Mahayana
Buddhism arrived in time for Wales to revive the nation after the events of 1177. Jayavarman
VII dared to use this doctrine, because at that time there were more and more Buddhists, and on
the other hand, this doctrine is a humanistic doctrine tending to the general population, like the
statues on the walls of Bayon temple as a testimony. Already, to show his compassion for the
people, he built 102 hospitals for all four classes to treat the same disease. This shows that in the
eyes of the people, Mahayana Buddhism has the ability not to lose to the Theravada religion, but
also has the ability to protect, save and serve the people. Unfortunately, the conversion is still
going on. Jayavarman VIII returned to Siva, which caused a strong reaction from the Brahmins
against Buddhism until the Buddha statues were smashed or scratched. This situation seems to
have lasted until the Sweet Cucumber Revolution, which replaced Hinayana Buddhism to this
day.

2. Individualism
From the 9th century to the 12th century, many statues of deities or bodhisattvas were
erected, but they did not represent all the deities or bodhisattvas. Representatives of the royal
family, royal family, teachers or people who are grateful to the nation, who are elevated to the
status of equal deities or bodhisattvas. The names of these statues are derived by combining the
personal names of revered persons with the names of devas or bodhisattvas. It should be noted
that this individualism was very prosperous at the end of the 12th century AD. Statues of fathers,
mothers, relatives, friends whom she knew well or just heard talking about. Also, after her death,
her sister Indra Devi erected numerous statues of the king and her own throughout the city.

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 V. Economics and Arts

Devaraja doctrine gave the king the status of a deity, but this deity was not isolated from the
world, he was with the people, and there was the suffering of the people. Therefore, in order to
prove that he has great power and excellence as a deity, he must strive to make the people know
the true abundance and prosperity. Therefore, he must make agriculture Growing to the
maximum is to provide abundant water without relying on rain by building large barays, some of
which remain to this day. This work was done by the people with the utmost sincerity, because
they have a strong belief in the Thevaraja doctrine, which can effectively unite the nation and
liberate the nation from foreigners. According to Mr. Chiv Ta Kwan, Khmer people at that time
could farm three to four times a year. Henri Stierlin, a Swiss national expert, estimates that on an
area of 1,000 square kilometers in the Angkor area, about 150,000 tons of rice can be produced
per year, which can feed up to 800,000 people. The remaining 40% can be donated to other
areas. It is this economic growth that allows people to participate in the construction of temples
according to the needs of both theology and individualism. Therefore, in the architecture of that
period, two types of temples were observed: 1. Prasat Phnom, a multi-storey temple built on the
roof for the Devaraja doctrine (Bakong , Bakheng, Baksey Chamkrong , Prasat Thom , Mebon
East , Takeo, Baphuon , Angkor Wat , Bayon ) . 2. Temple built low to the ground as a temple
for individualism (Preah Koul Lai, Banteay Chhmar , Preah Khanta Prohm. Etc.) On the other
hand, it was observed that from one kingdom to another, the temples became larger and
larger. This shows that the king of Angkor seemed to be competing for his prestige. As for the
temples as mentioned above, this is not only the construction is completed, but the people have
the supply of tools and offerings and have the duty to serve and maintain the temples. For
example, Ta Prohm was built in 1186 by Jayavarman VII to dedicate to the souls of mothers and
teachers, and 260 other states in 3,140 villages (for supplies and utensils). 79,365 people (of
which 12,640 are always on the temple grounds). The offerings include: a gold plate weighing
more than 5 tons, a silver plate weighing the same, 35 large diamonds and 406 pearls. 20 fine
gems, 4,540 gems, a large gold plinth, 967 beds in China, made of fine fabric, 512 clasps, 523
clasps. For food: rice, sugar, milk, oil, honey, wax, almonds, chives. This is for the same temple,
seeing that the use of manpower and property is already considerable, what if our Cambodians
have thousands of temples, how much is the demand for both manpower and wealth? In this
regard, many historians consider the construction of temples and long warfare (Suryavarman II
defeated both Vietnam, Cham, and Mon) as a factor in the decline of Angkorian civilization.

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 VI. History

1. Jayavarman II - Founder of Angkor

The first data on Jayavarman II comes from the inscription K.235 on an inscription at Sdok
Kak Thom temple in northeastern Thailand. Dated to 1053 AD, it recounts the two and a half
centuries of service that members of the temple family gave to the Khmer court, primarily as a
Brahmin priest of Shiva.

According to one of the oldest commentaries, Jayavarman II is believed to have been a prince
who lived in the palace of the Sailen dynasty in present-day Java (present-day Indonesia) and
brought back the arts and culture of Sai Lent Palace, Java to Cambodia.This ancient theory was
echoed by modern scholars such as Claude Jacques.And Michael Vickery, who noted that the
Khmer called the Javanese the Cham, their closest neighbors.In addition, the political life of
Jayavarman began in Vyathapura (probably Banteay Prey Nokor) in eastern Cambodia, creating
a very long period of contact with them (in addition to sporadic
battles). Through inscriptions that tell) rather than a long stay in
distant Java.Finally, many of the ancient temples on Mount
Kulen show the influence of the Cham (e.g., the Elephant
Temple) and the Javanese (e.g., the early Aram Rong Cen and
Prasat Thmar Dap). ) Although the different arrangements of the
temples seem to be in the Khmer style. Then the last king
returned to his homeland, the former kingdom of Chenla , he
Dedicated to King Sovarman
immediately established his influence by conquering a series of
conquering kings in 790 AD. Became the king of a kingdom called Cambodia by the Khmer
people. Over the years, he expanded his territory and eventually established his new capital at
Hariharalaya, near the modern Cambodian town of Rolous. As a result, he extended the
construction of Angkor, which was to take place some 15 km to the northwest. In 802, he
declared himself an emperor in a ritual derived from the Hindu-Indian tradition. As a result, he
not only became an unrivaled ruler and was elected by the gods, but also declared the
independence of his kingdom from Java at the same time. Jayavarman II Died in 834 AD and
was succeeded by his son Jayavarman III. Jayavarman III died in 877 AD. And was succeeded
by King Indravarman I.

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 2. Yasothorepur - First Angkor
Banteay Srei Tower
Successive kings, Jayavarman II, gradually expanded
Cambodian territory. Indravarman I (877-889 AD) planned to
expand the kingdom without war, and he began a grand
construction project thanks to the wealth that came through trade
and agriculture. Primarily, the temple of Preah Ko and the
handicrafts of water to fill the rice fields. He was succeeded by
his son Yasovarman I (reigned 889-915 AD), who established
the new capital, Yasodharapura, the first city of Angkor. Archer riding an elephant

The temple in the center of the city was built on [Phnom

Bakheng], a hill that rises 60 m above the plains at
Angkor. Under the leadership of Yasovarman I, the eastern baray
was also established, a large reservoir of 7.5 and 1.8 km.

At the beginning of the 10th century, the kingdom was

divided. Jayavarman IV established a new capital on Koh Ker, Takeo Temple
100 km northeast of Angkor. Only Rajendravarman II alone (reigned 944-968 AD) in the Royal
Palace. Who returned to Yasodhara. He re-established the grand scheme of construction among
the first kings and built a series of temples in Angkor, not just the eastern Mebon on an island in
the middle of the eastern baray. Many pagodas were also built. In the year 950 AD The first war
was fought between Cambodia and the kingdom of Champa in the east (in modern-day central
Vietnam).

From 968 to 1001 AD Reigned by the son of King Rajendravarman II, King Jayavarman
V. After he made himself the new king over the other princes, his reign was a time of lasting
peace, marked by prosperity and a flourishing culture like flowers. He established a new capital
near Yasodhara Borayantankiri. In the palace of Jayavarman V, inhabited by philosophers,
scholars and artists. New temples were also built: these important temples were Banteay Srei,
considered one of the most beautiful and beautiful temples in Angkor, and Takeo, the first
Angkorian temple to be built of sandstone. After the death of Jayavarman V, a decade of conflict
continued. The kings who reigned for only a few years were replaced by a series of atrocities by
their successors until finally Suryavarman I (reigned 1010-1050 AD). Throne. Under his
leadership, he was marked by repeated attempts by his enemies to overthrow him through several
military conquests. In the west he extended the kingdom to Lopburi in present-day Thailand, in
the south to the plains of Kra. At Angkor, the construction of the western baray began under
Suryavarman I, the second largest pool (8 by 2.2 km) after the eastern baray. No one knows
whether he has a son or a wife.

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 3. Suryavarman II - Angkor Wat
The 11th century was a time of conflict and brutal power struggles. Only Suryavarman II
(reigned 1113-1150) was able to unite the country and expand its territory abroad. Under his
leadership, the largest temple of Angkor was built in 37 years: Angkor Wat dedicated to
Vishnu. Suryavarman II conquered the Mon kingdom of
Hariphunchai to the west (present-day Central Thailand) and
farther west to the border, along with the kingdom of Bakan
(modern-day Burma) in the southern part of the Malay
Peninsula. Almost Koh Malay) down to the kingdom of Krahi
(probably corresponding to the modern Thai province of Nokor
Srey Thammarat) in the eastern part of Champa province and
Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat
some countries in the north as far as the southern border of
modern Laos. The end of Suryavarman II is unclear. The last inscription commemorating his
name in connection with the planned Vietnamese invasion is from 1145. He died during the
mission. The defeated army on the territory of Dai Viet around 1145 and 1150. That continued in
another period when kings reigned for a short time and were violently overthrown by their
successors. Finally, in 1177, Cambodia was defeated in a naval battle on the Tonle Sap Lake by
the Cham army and was joined by a province of Champa.

 War between Khmer and Nokor Champa

According to Khmer inscriptions and ancient Chinese historical documents, we note that
Cambodia was often at war with the Champa kingdom. Because in Southeast Asia at that time,
the only forces or ethnic groups facing each other were the Khmer and the Cham. This war is a
war of territory, power, and influence that brings the most catastrophic consequences to the fate
of Champa.

1. Origin of Nokor Champa

The Cham people are of Javanese or Malay and Polish descent, living in present-day Malaysia
and Indonesia. At the beginning of the 1st century AD, the Cham people, famous for their sea
voyages, came to occupy the land between the Annamite Mountains and the sea. The northern
border is the territory of China, Tonkin Province and the southern border is the territory of
Khmer Kampuchea Krom. It is a narrow strait with natural barriers (the Annam Mountains)
bounded to the west and east (China Sea). The name of the kingdom of Champa, which Chinese
travelers named Lin Yi. For the first time in its history, the kingdom of Champa was influenced
by India and worshiped Hinduism. The Cham kings always proclaimed their descent from Shiva
or Iso.

2. Causes of the Khmer-Champa War

Due to its small size, the population is increasing and on the other hand, because in the west
there is a very high wall of Annam Mountain, it is not possible to cross it. . From the 3rd to the
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4th century AD, all forces invaded and conquered the province of Tonkin. But this war did not
seem to bring success to the kingdom of Champa. The Vietnamese retaliated, making the Chams
uncontrollable, and moved Indrapur to settle at Pandorang (). Then the capital of Cham was
raised at Kao Theara (). Not only that, many times, the kingdom of Champa was invaded by the
Javanese pirates in boats, invading, killing, torturing, stealing, burning and often destroying from
765 to 787 AD. The Chinese army, which controlled Tonkin, also had a subjugation of
Champa. Then, in 1045, the Vietnamese army defeated the Cham army, captured the capital
Indrapur, and looted the Cham resources. In 1061, the territory of the three Cham provinces was
annexed by the Vietnamese. It was in this situation that the kingdom of Champa had to find a
way to find a way to invade and expand its territory down or south to Cambodia. Initially, the
incursion into Cambodian territory was not an attack or a war. It is a group of petty thieves who
come to rob and kill Cambodians just to make a living. The idea of wanting to expand the
territory of Khan Nokor Khmer does not seem to exist yet. These Cham thieves were sometimes
attacked, chased and killed by the Khmer king, and were sometimes allowed to live on
Cambodian territory to serve Cambodian politics and interests. However, in 809 AD, during the
reign of Jayavarman II, a Cham named Por, the general of the Champa kingdom, raised a large
army to attack the Khmer kingdom. But the Cham army was defeated, scattered and
scattered. The crisis between the Khmer and the Cham also grew steadily over time. In 945-946,
the Khmer-Cham conflict escalated into a full-blown war. The Khmer army under the leadership
of the Khmer king, King Rajendravarman, defeated the Cham army, invaded the kingdom of
Champa, and captured the capital, Kawtara. Cham inscriptions describe the war, stating that the
Khmer army had stolen a golden statue of Phakavattey. The war and war between the Khmer and
Cham kingdoms lasted for more than 75 years. But in the last period when the kingdom of
Champa came under heavy pressure from the Vietnamese, Champa seemed to turn to seek
support from Cambodia.

 Jayavarman VII - Angkor Thom

The future King Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1219) was

an existing general who was to be a prince under the
previous king. After the Chams conquered Angkor, he
gathered his army and recaptured the capital of
Yasodharapura. In 1181, he ascended the throne and
continued the war against neighboring eastern kingdoms for
another 22 years, until the Khmer defeated Champa in 1203
and conquered much of Champa. Bayon Temple

Jayavarman VII was the last great king of Angkor, not only because of the success of the war
against the Chams, but also because he was a benevolent leader of his own successive kings.
Because he unified the empire and all of the above, because those construction projects
continued under his reign. The new capital, now called Angkor Thom (literally: city or Borey
Thom), was built. In the center, the king (himself a Mahayana Buddhist) built a Bayon temple
with a tower facing the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, several meters high, carved out of

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stone. More important temples were built under the leadership of Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm,
Banteay Kdei and Neak Pean, as well as the Srah Srang Reservoir. The 121 lodges on those
streets were built for merchants, government officials, and travelers. Not only that, he built 102
more hospitals.

 Zhou Daquan or Zhou Daquan - The Last Glory

After the death of Jayavarman VII, his son Indravarman II (reigned 1219-1243) ascended the
throne. Like his father, he was a Buddhist and completed a series of temples that began to be
built under his father. As a warrior, he had little victory. In 1220, under increasing pressure from
the powerful Dai Viet and the Cham allies of Vietnam, the Khmer withdrew troops from some
provinces before conquering Champa. In the west, his subjects, the Thais, revolted, established
the first Thai kingdom in Sukhothai, and pushed the Khmers back. For the next 200 years, the
Thais became the main enemies of Cambodia. King Indravarman II was succeeded by King
Jayavarman VIII (reigned 1243-1295). In contrast to previous monarchs, he was a Hindu and an
outspoken opponent of Buddhism. He destroyed Buddha statues in many kingdoms
(archaeologists estimate more than 10,000, of which only a few remnants remain) and converted
Buddhist temples to Hinduism. From the outside, the empire was threatened in 1283 by the
Mongols under the command of one of Sagatu's generals, Kublai Khan, sometimes known as
Sogetu or Sodu, and was the ruler. Guangzhou, ChinaIt was a small troop from a large campaign
against Champa and Dai Viet. The king avoided war with his powerful enemy, who now controls
the whole of China, by paying an annual tribute to King Kublai Khan.The reign of Jayavarman
VIII ended in 1295, when he was overthrown by King Srinavarman (Indravarman III) (reigned
1295-1309). The new king was a Theravada Buddhist, a teaching of Buddhism that came to
Southeast Asia from Sri Lanka and continued to spread throughout most of the region.

In August 1296, the Chinese ambassador Zhou Taquan arrived in Angkor and stayed in the
palace of King Srinavarman until July 1297. He was also not the first and last Chinese
representative to visit Cambodia. Angkor. His paintings are one of the most important sources
today to explore the history of Angkor. By describing some of the great temples (Bayon,
Baphuon, Angkor Wat, for which we also thank you for the news that the towers of Bayon at that
time were covered with gold), this article also provides valuable information. On the daily life
and habits of the people of Angkor.

VII. The Fall and the End of Angkor

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 1300 AD Showing the
Khmer Empire in red, the
Lao Kingdom in light
blue, the
Sukhothai Kingdom in
orange, the Champa in
yellow , the Dai Viet in blue
and the One Million Rice
Kingdoms in purple
There is little historical record from the period following the reign of King Sindravarman.
The last known inscription on one of the pillars is from 1327. No more major temples have been
built. Historians are skeptical of the king's adherence to Theravada Buddhism: so those kings
were no longer considered Devaraja , and there was no need to build a temple for the king or for
any deity under his protection. They were to represent the gods. Withdrawal from the idea of the
Devaraja may also have led to the loss of the king's authority and due to a shortage of
labor. Water management equipment has also declined, meaning yields have been reduced by
floods or droughts. In the past, yields three times a year were the result - a significant
contribution to Cambodia's prosperity and influence - a decline in rice yields further weakened
the empire.

The western neighbor of the empire was the first Thai kingdom, Sukhothai, which later
overthrew Angkorian supremacy. The empire was also conquered by another Thai kingdom
below the Chao Phraya River basin, Ayutthaya, in 1350. Since the 14th century, Ayutthaya has
been an enemy of Angkor. Through the story of Angkor, Ayutthaya launched several
offensives. Finally, it is said that Angkor was subjugated. The Siamese army retreated, leaving
Angkor ruled by local aristocrats who were loyal to Ayutthaya. The story of Angkor has faded
from historical events since then.

There is evidence that dark deaths had an impact on the conditions described above, as the
first plague appeared in China around 1330 and reached Europe around 1345. Most of the
seaports along the route from China to Europe have collapsed due to the outbreak, which has had
a devastating impact on livelihoods throughout Southeast Asia.

Rock falls at Banteay Kdei

The new center of the Khmer kingdom was southwest of Udong in an area near present-day
Phnom Penh. However, there are indications that Angkor was not completely abandoned. One
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dynasty of Khmer kings may have remained there, while the second dynasty moved to Phnom
Penh to establish the same kingdom. The last fall of Angkor was probably later due to economic
turmoil - and with political significance, Phnom Penh turned into a major trading center on
the Mekong River. Expensive construction projects and power struggles The royal family sealed
the end of the Khmer Empire.

Declining ecosystems and infrastructure damage were a new option in response to the end of
the Khmer Empire. Major Angkor projects believed that the Khmer had elaborate water storage
systems and canals used for trade, travel, and irrigation. The canal is used for rice cultivation. As
the population grows, so does the attractiveness of the irrigation system. The downfall includes
water shortages and floods. To accommodate the growing population, forests have been cleared
from Phnom Kulen and cleared for more rice fields. Will and that created a mix of rain brings the
end of the canal system. Any damage to the irrigation system can leave a large number of
consequences. In any event, there is evidence of a later period in the use of Angkor. Under the
reign of the first king (reigned 1566-1576), who continued to temporarily push the Siamese out,
the palace was briefly moved back to Angkor. From the 17th century onwards, some inscriptions
provide evidence of Japanese settlement near the remaining Khmer inscriptions. The most
famous tale of Yukondafukazu Fusak, who participated in the Khmer New Year there in 1632.

IX. Photos Memories

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We do research on our assignment.

After we discuss about the assignment.

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VIII. Reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire

https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia/The-Khmer-state-Angkor

https://www.nla.gov.au/digital-classroom/year-8/asia-pacific-world/

angkorkhmer-empire-c802-c1431/themes/rise-angkor-and

https://www.worldhistory.org/Khmer_Empire/

Thank you!!!

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