Angkor's Iron Fails: The Weapon Crisis That Doomed an Empire

By the 14th century, the Khmer Empire faces a crippling shortage of iron, essential for weapons and tools. Lucas and Luna explore how the loss of iron supply from the Phnom Dek mines in the Dângrêk Mountains, exacerbated by deforestation and the rise of Ayutthaya, left Angkor unable to defend itself. They trace the trade networks that once brought high-carbon steel from the west, the shift to bronze and wood, and the collapse of military capability that contributed to the empire's final fall. This episode uncovers a little-known but decisive factor in Angkor's decline. #KhmerEmpire #Angkor #IronAge #PhnomDek #DangrekMountains #Ayutthaya #WeaponCrisis #Metallurgy #SoutheastAsianHistory #Defeat #TradeRoutes #Deforestation #BronzeWeapons #Steel #Collapse #History #FexingoHistory #Archaeology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo