The Khmer Empire's Water Management Collapse

In this episode of Fexingo History, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the intricate water management system that sustained Angkor for centuries and how its failure contributed to the empire's decline. Drawing on recent archaeological findings from the Greater Angkor Project, they discuss the massive baray reservoirs, the role of the Tonle Sap, and the devastating impact of climate change—prolonged droughts followed by intense monsoons—that overwhelmed the infrastructure. Lucas explains how the shift from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism altered the devaraja cult and weakened centralized control over water distribution. They also highlight the work of scholars like Daniel Penny and Roland Fletcher, whose studies of sediment cores and tree rings revealed the empire's vulnerability. The episode reframes the collapse not as a single catastrophe but as a slow unraveling tied to environmental degradation and political fragmentation, offering insights relevant to modern challenges. #KhmerEmpire #AngkorWat #WaterManagement #ClimateChange #GreaterAngkorProject #Baray #TonleSap #TheravadaBuddhism #Devaraja #DanielPenny #RolandFletcher #MegaDrought #Monsoon #Infrastructure #Collapse #SoutheastAsia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo