-
What caused the fall of the Khmer Empire? BY OLIVIA CRAUS
Mark Standen .2011. Rise and Fall of Angkor Civilisation. Cambodia Travel. http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/ . 14/06/2015
Information from the text: (key) Theravada Buddhism Loss of water control External threats Double-edged sword of Roads Network
The Khmer empire was supported by their Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism was introduced to the Khmers in the 13th century and had turned the original foundations on their heads. Rather than serving their god-king, like they did with the previous religions, the people seeking spiritual enlightenment, abandoned their worldly belongings and were turned away from superstitious beliefs. The old Khmer belief of the kings being gods, diminished.
As the people became less devoted to their ‘god-kings’ they steered away from wholehearted work and serving the king. The irrigation system and drainage system had less water supply and there was less rice cultivation, the productivity and strength of the empire was thus weakened.
When neighboring states to the Angkor region grew, they posed major threats to the empire, in particular the Thai State of Ayuthaya. As its neighbours grew, more time and effort had to be spent in order to protect itself with its armed forces, rather than being spent working on its irrigation system.
Jayavarman V|| built a road network that helped transportation of trade through the empire and connected them with neighboring civilisations.It was known as a doubled-edged sword as it left Angkor vulnerable when rival troops marched right through for battle, which was much easier than what they had to do earlier, sail through the Mekong River. It had been said that the road was used to destroy the empire at the end, by the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1431.
What the text means:
-The Khmer Empire broke for four main reasons, which were all interconnected.
-Firstly, because of the newly introduced religion, Theravada Buddhism, that stopped the people’s drive for work.
-Secondly, because the irrigation and drainage system were neglected and their standard majorly dropped.
-Thirdly, because of its newly neighboring civilisations.
-And finally, because of the double-edged sword road, which left them vulnerable to attack.
Questions developed due to the text:
How was Theravada Buddhism introduced to the Angkor region? What would be different if the double-edged sword road had never had been constructed? Why did the Thai State attack on Angkor?
OPINION PIECE: In a nutshell, the Khmer Empire broke down and fell from power due to four interconnected factors, that left the empire vulnerable. The factors were, the rise of Theravada Buddhism, the loss of water control, external threats and rivalries, and lastly, the creation of the double-edged sword road. The factors were like dominos, one after another, they lead to the defeat of the once thriving empire. It now can only be wondered what would have become of the Khmer Empire if only Theravada Buddhism was never introduced to ‘The Great Empire’.
how did the Khmer Empire rise and what were they greatest victory - ALYSSA MONTALVO
oxford 8.1
Several major factors have been cited as contributors to the demise of Angkor: war with the neighboring polity of Ayuddhaya; conversion of the society to Theravada Buddhism; increasing maritime trade which removed Angkor's strategic lock on the region; over-population of its cities; and climate change bringing an extended drought to the region.
The difficulty in determining the precise reasons for Angkor's collapse lies in the lack of historical documentation. Much of Angkor's history is detailed in Sanskrit carvings from the polity's temples as well as reports from its trade partners in China. But documentation during the late 14th and early 15th centuries within Angkor itself fell silent.
At its height in the 9th century, Angkor included most of modern-day Cambodia, central Thailand, southern Vietnam and parts of Laos and included a population of hundreds of thousands. Its principal cities--Angkor, Koh Ker, Phimai, Sambor Prei Kuk--were engineered to take advantage of the rainy season, when the water table is right at ground surface and rain falls between 45 and 75 inches a year; and the dry season, when the water table drops up to five meters (16 feet) below the surface.
Every society has features that are unique. these features make one society stand apart from another. in case of the Khmer Empire, these features were largely based on a range go geographical and environmental factors. cambodia has a wet season and a dry season. the wet season( from may to october) brings heavy rains and monsoons, while dry season brings little to no rain at all. during the Khmer Empire, the people took full advantages of these weather patterns as well.
what the text mean
- they have different season
- they had different people reigons.
questions related to the text
- why do they have different seasons of wet and dry
- is they any other reasons why they fall of power
What caused the fall of the Khmer Empire? BY OLIVIA CRAUS
Mark Standen .2011. Rise and Fall of Angkor Civilisation. Cambodia Travel. http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/ . 14/06/2015
Information from the text: (key) Theravada Buddhism Loss of water control External threats Double-edged sword of Roads Network
The Khmer empire was supported by their Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism was introduced to the Khmers in the 13th century and had turned the original foundations on their heads. Rather than serving their god-king, like they did with the previous religions, the people seeking spiritual enlightenment, abandoned their worldly belongings and were turned away from superstitious beliefs. The old Khmer belief of the kings being gods, diminished.
As the people became less devoted to their ‘god-kings’ they steered away from wholehearted work and serving the king. The irrigation system and drainage system had less water supply and there was less rice cultivation, the productivity and strength of the empire was thus weakened.
When neighboring states to the Angkor region grew, they posed major threats to the empire, in particular the Thai State of Ayuthaya. As its neighbours grew, more time and effort had to be spent in order to protect itself with its armed forces, rather than being spent working on its irrigation system.
Jayavarman V|| built a road network that helped transportation of trade through the empire and connected them with neighboring civilisations.It was known as a doubled-edged sword as it left Angkor vulnerable when rival troops marched right through for battle, which was much easier than what they had to do earlier, sail through the Mekong River. It had been said that the road was used to destroy the empire at the end, by the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1431.
What the text means:
-The Khmer Empire broke for four main reasons, which were all interconnected.
-Firstly, because of the newly introduced religion, Theravada Buddhism, that stopped the people’s drive for work.
-Secondly, because the irrigation and drainage system were neglected and their standard majorly dropped.
-Thirdly, because of its newly neighboring civilisations.
-And finally, because of the double-edged sword road, which left them vulnerable to attack.
Questions developed due to the text:
How was Theravada Buddhism introduced to the Angkor region? What would be different if the double-edged sword road had never had been constructed? Why did the Thai State attack on Angkor?
OPINION PIECE: In a nutshell, the Khmer Empire broke down and fell from power due to four interconnected factors, that left the empire vulnerable. The factors were, the rise of Theravada Buddhism, the loss of water control, external threats and rivalries, and lastly, the creation of the double-edged sword road. The factors were like dominos, one after another, they lead to the defeat of the once thriving empire. It now can only be wondered what would have become of the Khmer Empire if only Theravada Buddhism was never introduced to ‘The Great Empire’.
how did the Khmer Empire rise and what were they greatest victory - ALYSSA MONTALVO
oxford 8.1
Several major factors have been cited as contributors to the demise of Angkor: war with the neighboring polity of Ayuddhaya; conversion of the society to Theravada Buddhism; increasing maritime trade which removed Angkor's strategic lock on the region; over-population of its cities; and climate change bringing an extended drought to the region.
The difficulty in determining the precise reasons for Angkor's collapse lies in the lack of historical documentation. Much of Angkor's history is detailed in Sanskrit carvings from the polity's temples as well as reports from its trade partners in China. But documentation during the late 14th and early 15th centuries within Angkor itself fell silent.
At its height in the 9th century, Angkor included most of modern-day Cambodia, central Thailand, southern Vietnam and parts of Laos and included a population of hundreds of thousands. Its principal cities--Angkor, Koh Ker, Phimai, Sambor Prei Kuk--were engineered to take advantage of the rainy season, when the water table is right at ground surface and rain falls between 45 and 75 inches a year; and the dry season, when the water table drops up to five meters (16 feet) below the surface.
Every society has features that are unique. these features make one society stand apart from another. in case of the Khmer Empire, these features were largely based on a range go geographical and environmental factors. cambodia has a wet season and a dry season. the wet season( from may to october) brings heavy rains and monsoons, while dry season brings little to no rain at all. during the Khmer Empire, the people took full advantages of these weather patterns as well.
what the text mean
- they have different season
- they had different people reigons.
questions related to the text
- why do they have different seasons of wet and dry
- is they any other reasons why they fall of power