The Fall of Angkor: Climate Collapse and the Abandonment of a City

Angkor was not conquered. It was slowly abandoned. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the final centuries of the Khmer Empire, from the 14th to the 16th century, when a combination of climate change, water management failures, and shifting trade routes led to the gradual depopulation of the great capital. They discuss the evidence from tree rings and sediment cores that reveals decades-long droughts followed by intense monsoons, which overwhelmed Angkor's sophisticated canal and reservoir network. They also look at the rise of Theravada Buddhism, the shift of political power to the Phnom Penh region, and the final abandonment of Angkor Thom in the 16th century. The episode ties these historical events to modern concerns about climate resilience and infrastructure. Featured terms: Tonlé Sap, baray, Theravada Buddhism, Angkor Thom, Phnom Penh, Greater Angkor Project, Ayutthaya. This is a story not of a sudden collapse, but of a slow fading — and a warning from the past. #Angkor #KhmerEmpire #ClimateChange #Collapse #AngkorWat #AngkorThom #TheravadaBuddhism #TonleSap #GreaterAngkorProject #Drought #Monsoon #WaterManagement #SoutheastAsianHistory #Cambodia #Lidar #TreeRings #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo