Angkor's Lost Lake: How the Tonle Sap Sustained an Empire

This episode explores the Tonle Sap, the vast lake at the heart of the Khmer Empire that made Angkor's rise possible—and its transformation a factor in the empire's decline. We'll look at the lake's unique hydrological reversal, how it shaped Khmer agriculture, fishing, and trade, and how changes in the Mekong system and climate may have contributed to Angkor's collapse. We'll also examine lesser-known details like the role of the lake in Khmer cosmology and the recent discoveries by the Greater Angkor Project about water management. A fresh angle on a familiar story, grounded in geography. #TonleSap #Angkor #KhmerEmpire #SoutheastAsia #Hydrology #WaterManagement #GreaterAngkorProject #MekongRiver #Fishing #Agriculture #ClimateChange #Collapse #Cambodia #History #FexingoHistory #Medieval #Empire #Lake Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo