The Khmer Empire and the Rise of Angkor

In this pilot episode, we begin at dawn over Angkor Wat in 1186, just after its consecration. Lucas and Luna explore the origins of the Khmer Empire, starting with Jayavarman II's declaration of devaraja in 802 CE on Mount Kulen. They discuss the empire's geography around the Tonle Sap lake, the sophisticated water management system of barays and canals, and the transition from Hindu to Buddhist state religion under Jayavarman VII. The conversation touches on the legend of the leper king, the role of apsaras in temple reliefs, and the mysterious decline tied to climate change and the fall of Angkor in 1431. Future episodes will delve deeper into daily life, architecture, and the empire's legacy. #KhmerEmpire #AngkorWat #JayavarmanII #JayavarmanVII #Devaraja #TonleSap #MountKulen #Barays #Apsaras #Leperking #Hinduism #Buddhism #SoutheastAsia #Cambodia #AngkorThom #Climatechange #History #FexingoHistory #SuryavarmanII #Bayon Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo