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450
The tradng between India and the Khmer people 400BCE
India and the Khmer people had a good trading relationship, they traded ideas, cultural practises that was adopted by the Khmer. One of the biggest influence India had on the Khmer was Hindu and Buddhist religion at that time of the Khmer Empire. -
500
The Khmer Empire began
The Khmer Empire began in the 5th century, the Khmer people traded with India. The Khmer people used ideas and practises. The influence of India’s culture on the Khmer people was important for the Hindu and Buddhist religions at the time of the Khmer Empire. -
Jan 1, 1177
Chams Kingdom invaded the Khmer Empires eastern territory
The eastern territory of the Khmer Empire was being attacked
and invaded by the chams.Chams are indigenous people from both Vietnam and Cambodia who formed an independent kingdom from the 2nd century to the 17th. There culture is strongly influenced by India. The Chams fought many wars in the 12th century against the Khmer.The Chams launched an attack from Lake Tonle Sap and also managed to capture the capital. In 1181 the Khmer defeated the Chams and won back capital lead by King Jayavarman 7. -
Jan 1, 1219
King Jayavarman VII expanded the Khmer Empire to its greatest limit
(King Jayavarman VII (1181-1219) expanded the Empire to its greatest limits, going to war with the Chams. The Thais started to take control of the Khmer's territory in the west. At this time the Khmer Empire there was many wars the Khmer Empire were fighting. -
Jan 1, 1219
The Bayon were built
The Bayon was the last temple to be constructed by the tremendous Khmer Empire. It was built by King Jayavarman VII (11891219). It's overshadowed by five towers and
each side of the towers being carved with the serene face of King Jayavarman. The Bayon's central tower stands 43m high, once was a statue of the Budda in the centre of the tower and was around 3.5 metres tall. In 1933 the artwork was found at the bottom of a well and is now on display at Angkor. -
Jan 1, 1300
Buddhism grows and becomes important and main religion of the Khmer Kings
Buddhism was not accepted by the devaraja throughout most of the ancient Khmer period. Buddhism came from India to the Khmer Empire by India and Khmer Empire trading ideas, religions and lots of other things. Buddha was the son of a northern king in the sixth century that abandoned his families wealth to live a simple life. Later in the Khmer Empire some of the kings did not see a threat to their rule so they allowed the people to practice and many did. Buddhism has no one ruling over people. -
Jan 1, 1327
The Khmer Empire stop building such large temples
Connections with kings' adoption of Theravada Buddhism which therefore they weren't considered devarajas. That is why there was no reason to build such enormous temples. The water management also worsen and instead of producing three rice harvests, as the harvest declined so did the empire. -
The Khmer Empire was defeated by the Thais
Around 1431 was the last time a Khmer king used Angkor as the capital after abandoning it. When the Khmer Empire was defeated by the Thai's, the Thai's took many of the items including gold, jewels, slaves and Buddha images. The Thais took slaves too back to their capital, Ayuthaya. When the Thais defeated the Khmer Empire, the Cambodians became a vassal of state of the Thais. -
Angkor Wat construction commences
Angkor Wat was built for King Jayavarman V. It was a temple to worship the kings and was where he was going to be buried under the middle tower. Jayavarman V ruled for over the next sixty years. -
King Jayavarman II came to power
King Jayavarman II came to power and further strengthened the power of the Khmer monarchy. He told everyone that he was the devaraja or known as god-kings and a ceremony was held by the high priests. Which meant his authority to rule came from a holy source was god living on Earth. -
King Yasovarman I succeeded Indravarman
King Yasovarman I succeeded Indravarman and moved the imperial capital again and named the city after himself, Yasodharapura. It stretched over an area of sixteen square kilometres, like all the other kings he built a temple in honour of him. -
Jayavarman II
Jayavarman II expanded the Khmer Empire and had expanded it greatly by the time he died. He’s power grew and felt pretty secure. He moved the capital city from Mount Kulen to Hariharalaya near the inland lake Tonle Sap and built his royal palace. -
Jayavarman III
Jayavarman III, Jayavarman the second’s son succeeded over him as a king. He began the construction of an irrigation network which was designed for improving rice production. It was to help to empire as it was expanding so rapidly and increased food for the Kings. He also enjoyed hunting elephants and is believed that he died by one.
