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500
Trade with India
Evidence of trade with India shows that it may have started before the Empire was started. Khmer art and culture was heavily influenced by India due to many years of trade with them, with things such as food and religion being brought to the Khmer Empire. -
Jan 1, 802
Khmer Empire started
King Jayavarman II declares himself chakravartin (king of the world) and the Khmer Empire begins. His reign ends in 835 CE. He was the first ruler of the Khmer Empire. -
Jan 1, 1122
Construction of Angkor Wat temple begins
Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. It was constructed as a temple for the Hindu god Vishnu, but gradually became a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. It represents the earthly version of Mt Meru, the home of the Hindu gods. [https://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/travel-tips-and-articles/77381] -
Jan 1, 1177
Angkor Wat raided
Angkor Wat is raided and looted by the Cham fleet, under the rule of Jaya Indravarman IV. -
Jan 1, 1181
King Jayavarman VII begins his rule.
Jayavarman VII was considered one of the greatest kings of the Khmer Empire. He was a strong military leader as a prince. He had many building projects within the Khmer Empire, and successfully unified the Empire. -
Jan 1, 1190
Angkor Thom
King Jayavarman VII builds Angkor Thom as a new capital city for the Khmer in the late twelfth century. -
Jan 1, 1203
Khmer defeat Champa
Khmer defeats Champa under rule of Jayavarman VII. They conquer large parts of the Champa territory. -
Jan 1, 1300
Buddhism
Buddhism becomes the main religion in the Khmer Empire. -
Jan 1, 1432
Khmers abandon Angkor
Khmers abandon Angkor. Over subsequent centuries, the jungle grows around and over Angkor and its location is forgotten. -
Jan 1, 1440
Phnom Penh
Khmer rulers relocate the capital to Phnom Penh. The Khmer king Ponhea Yat abandoned Angkor, saying it was indefensible. -
Vietnamese army attack the Khmer.
Vietnamese armies repeatedly attack Khmer forces In Mekong river and defeat the Khmer. The approximate modern borders of Cambodia are determined.