Destination Cambodia

Khmer History

There are barely nations to find in the world which are so closely connected to their history as the Khmer. Despite their sad and destructive history of war and terror regimes the Khmer haven’t lost their self confidence regarding themselves as the descendants of the artificers of Angkor.

From the high ruling royal culture of the Angkorian times to the riots and wars with Vietnam, Thailand and the US, Cambodia has gone through a lot of different phases in their history.

The bloom of Cambodia, the time of Angkor from the late 9th century until the middle of the 15th century, with its amazing temples and cities like Angkor Thom, a royal metropolis with more than a million inhabitants, Cambodia used to be one of the early high powers in Southeast Asia, a proud and free country.

Successful and capable emperors were ruling over metropolis with more than a million inhabitants, unique dimensions all over the world for the ancient era. Not to mention Angkor Wat a stunning temple and tomb for king Suryavarman II, builder of many of the ancient temples and masterpieces of that time, which are even today popular all over the world.

After the fall of the Angkorian empire Cambodia has always been endangered to be conquered and taken over by either Vietnam or Thailand. Due to this one could almost speak of a historical period regarding the still continuing tensions between these countries.

If the French hadn’t declared Cambodia their protectorate in 1863 surely Cambodia would be split among Thailand and Vietnam nowadays.

The almost 100 years of French reign over Cambodia helped the country to gain peace and blossom out again. Not only typical art-deco houses and villas were built, but also a complete railroad network throughout Cambodia linking the east to the west and the north to the south.

Sihanoukville at the coastline was discovered to become “the Riviera of the east” being a sophisticated retreat for the French and rich Khmer. The capital of Phnom Penh developed and became one the most ambitious metropolis in Southeast Asia.

Followed by the upcoming communism in the 1950’s in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia sadly the country opened another dark chapter of history. However, communism wasn’t actually following the ideas of Marx’s or Lenin but can be regarded as nationalism against the colonial powers to loosen the chains.

Cambodia now even went through more problems and queries with their neighboring countries and the ruling of the Khmer Rouge.

Hopefully the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, which tried to wipe out the knowledge and the elite of the country by killing more than 2,000,000 innocents, was the last chapter hindering the proud nation of the Khmer to fully develop and regain the benefits of the past to be led into a new and bride future.