EPISODE · Aug 10, 2026 · 5 MIN
Angkor's Water Crisis: The Great Baray Collapse
from The Khmer Empire's Sudden Collapse Explained — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this special 200th episode, Lucas and Luna dig into one of the most overlooked factors in the fall of Angkor: the catastrophic failure of its water management system. You'll hear about the massive baray, or reservoirs, that once sustained the city, the engineering flaws that made them vulnerable, and the evidence scientists have uncovered about the final decades. Discover how the West Baray silted up, why the East Baray was abandoned, and how the city's growth outpaced its canals. We also explore the social collapse that followed the drying of the waterworks — the shift to private wells, the rural exodus, and the rise of Phnom Penh. Featuring insights from the Greater Angkor Project, this episode connects the dots between climate change, political decision-making, and the quiet collapse of an ancient superpower. #Angkor #KhmerEmpire #WaterManagement #Baray #TonleSap #GreaterAngkorProject #ClimateChange #SoutheastAsia #History #FexingoHistory #Hydrology #Engineering #Collapse #PhnomPenh #JayavarmanVII #IndravarmanIII #ZhouDaguan #Cambodia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Angkor's Water Crisis: The Great Baray Collapse
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