The Fall of Angkor: Climate, War, and the Great Abandonment

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic collapse of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, focusing on the little-known figure of King Ponhea Yat, who fled Angkor for Phnom Penh. They delve into the role of climate change—decades of drought followed by intense monsoon flooding—that crippled the vast water management system of barays and canals. The episode also covers the devastating Ayutthaya siege of 1431, the sacking of Angkor Thom, and the gradual shift of power to the south. Lucas explains how archaeological evidence from tree rings and sediment cores reveals a perfect storm of environmental stress and military pressure, challenging the old myth of a single catastrophic battle. The conversation ends with a reflection on how empires can fade not with a bang, but with a long, quiet retreat. #AngkorWat #KhmerEmpire #PonheaYat #Ayutthaya #ClimateChange #Hydrology #Baray #AngkorThom #PhnomPenh #15thCentury #SoutheastAsiaHistory #Collapse #Drought #Monsoon #HistoricalMystery #Archaeology #History #FexingoHistory #SuryavarmanII #JayavarmanVII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo