The Mekong Delta and Khmer Empire's Maritime Trade

Long before Angkor Wat rose from the jungle, the Khmer Empire's heartland was crisscrossed by a web of waterways. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Mekong Delta and Tonlé Sap shaped the empire's rise and fall. They dive into the port city of Srei Santhor, the role of Chinese and Cham merchants, and the environmental toll of hydraulic engineering. Learn about the 'baray' water reservoirs, the collapse of trade routes after the 13th century, and how recent LIDAR scans have revealed a sprawling urban grid hidden beneath the forest. A story of water, wealth, and the delicate balance that sustained — and ultimately doomed — Southeast Asia's greatest medieval power. #KhmerEmpire #MekongDelta #TonleSap #SreiSanthor #ZhouDaguan #HydraulicEngineering #Baray #LIDAR #Champa #JayavarmanVII #AngkorWat #SoutheastAsia #MedievalTrade #WaterManagement #Archaeology #History #FexingoHistory #LostCity Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo