Khmer Empire

In this episode, we journey through the rise, splendor, and collapse of the Khmer Empire, the powerful Southeast Asian civilization that flourished from 802 to 1431 and left an enduring legacy in its monumental capital of Angkor. Drawing from the article's detailed chronology, we trace the empire's beginnings under Jayavarman II, its Golden Age marked by architectural masterpieces like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, and the complex blend of religious shifts, Siamese pressure, and ecological failures that drove its eventual decline. Along the way, this episode also explores Khmer society-its economy, water engineering, military organization, regional diplomacy, and the vivid observations of Zhou Daguan-revealing how this remarkable empire shaped the cultural and political landscape of mainland Southeast Asia.