Angkor's Lost Port: The Tonle Sap Trade That Powered an Empire

Before Angkor fell, it was a hub of international trade. This episode explores the role of the Tonle Sap lake as a vital port linking the Khmer Empire to China, Java, and India. We examine the archaeological evidence from the 13th-century Chinese traveler Zhou Daguan, who documented bustling markets and exotic goods. Lucas and Luna discuss how shifting trade routes and environmental changes to the lake's water levels contributed to Angkor's economic decline. They also consider the controversy over whether Angkor was truly a 'hydraulic city' or more of a trading entrepôt. Featuring insights from recent lidar surveys and sediment cores, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the empire's collapse through the lens of its maritime connections. #KhmerEmpire #TonleSap #ZhouDaguan #AngkorTrade #SoutheastAsianHistory #LidarArchaeology #AncientPorts #MaritimeHistory #AngkorWat #HistoricalTradeRoutes #ClimateChange #EconomicHistory #Archaeology #History #FexingoHistory #Cambodia #LostCities #SilkRoad Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo