Funan

The birth of Cambodia began with the coastal kingdom of Funan in the first century AD. This kingdom became a vital stop on the trade route between India and China. Through this kingdom, the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism into the interior of Cambodia may have begun. Funan and other Cambodian kingdoms formed fragile alliances with each other and at times warred among themselves until the eighth century AD.

Angkor

In 802 AD, Jayavarman II claimed ultimate power over Cambodia. Then he proceeded to solidify his control through various conquests and alliances. This marked the beginning of the greatest time period in Cambodian history, the Angkor Kingdom. Around one hundred years after Jayavarman II became king, the royal court was moved to Angkor proper. Over time, this kingdom began to lose power and Suryavarman I usurped the throne in 1002. He reunited the kingdom and initiated a time of cultural growth and expansion. The Lopburi Kingdom in Thailand came under the control of Angkor during this time. Despite this time of great influence, the kingdom went into a state of disarray again.

Attacks Against Angkor

In 1112, Suryavarman II reunited the kingdom and initiated a building project that would result in the biggest religious complex in history. During his reign, he also conquered the kingdom of Champa in modern Vietnam. Many years later in 1177, the Chams sent a naval force up the Mekong into Tonle Sap. This force succeeded in a surprise attack against Angkor, which resulted in the death of the Angkor king. After one year, Angkor successfully conquered the Chams with a decisive naval victory. In 1181, Jayavarman VII took the throne in Angkor. He continued the agricultural and temple expansion of the city of Angkor. These projects added more to the Angkor complex than in any other time period. After the reign of Jayavarman VII, the Angkor kingdom began to lose its prestige and influence. Natural resources and income had been taxed by the construction projects in Angkor. Thailand’s kingdom of Ayuthaya grew steadily in power and succeeded in sacking Angkor in 1431. After this time, the seat of power began to shift to Phnom Penh.

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