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Jan 1, 1181
King Jayavarman VII
King Jayavarman did a lot for the khmer empire including building hospitals, advancing armies (with the ability to defeat the Vietnamese, Cham and Thai and using valued items in trade. He was the first King to follow the religion Buddhism as it does not support the belief of God on Earth like Hinduism. However King Jayavarmantried too hard,
as the strain from the costs of all these things he did affected the empire and created its downfall. He also built a small but impressive Buddhist temple ca -
Jan 1, 1213
Rule of Jayavarman VIII
The Khmer empire main religion once again becomes Hinduism and Buddhism temples are asked to be destroyed. This includes the image of Buddha in the middle of the Bayon shrine -
Jan 1, 1219
Cham kingdom and Thai land wars
As well as the rule of king Jayavarman VIII there also many wars going happening and about to happen in the Khmer Empire. The Cham kingdom and Thais fought many wars during the next 200 years and forced back the borders of the Khmer Empire. This was a slow process but it worked by straining the Empires resources. -
Jan 1, 1432
Ankor Wat abandoned Buddhism main religion
Ankor Wat abandoned and over time its location is forgotten. This is because in the year 1300 Buddhism once again became the main religion amongst the kings and with the rest of the empire -
Khmer King defeated by the Thais
The Khmer empire could no longer defend itself against the Thais and were defeated by them. Many valuable goods (slaves were also taken)were taken from the abandoned city of Ankor back to Ayuthaya (capital city) -
Other Theories for the Decline of the Empire
There is also speculation that possibly from all the wars and power the Khmer empire had resulted in the failure of the water management system. Thus leading to the fall of the Empire. The Black Death is also another possibility of its downfall from spreading through the China trade -
End of the Khmer Empire
Vietnamese defeats the Khmers by repeatedly attacking them in the Mekong river. This forms the basis of the borders around Cambodia today -
King Jayavarman II comes to power.
King Jayavarman II is considered as the main founder of the Empire as he began the strong monarchy by declaring himself devaraja (god like king) Moved the capital city from Mount Kulen to Hariharalaya -
King Jayavarman III
Is believed to have begun the work on the famous irrigation that was the reason for the strength of the Empire and its downfall. Might have died from hunting elephants. This water system is what maintained the Khmer Empire for so long. -
Angkor Wat the seventh wonder of the ancient world
VideoOne of the most impressive builds thae human race has done. Angkor Wat translated in the modern day as the capital of temples was commenced build in 961 by King Jayavarman V. Not only is the building impressive but the huge moat that surrounds it. It is dedicated to the God Vishnu from the Hindu religion. The king was to be buried in the temple.
