C. F. W. Higham

A very interesting analysis of the Kingdom of Angkor through archaeological evidence. It chronicles the entire duration of this civilization that lasted until about the 15th century.

The kings established an elite that established and used Sanskrit as their lingua franca while the common folk had to get by with Khmer. Hinduism was essentially the state religion with Vishnu being the chief diety. All the temples strarting with the magnificient Angkor Wat (the largest and most magnificient temple complex in the world built by Suryavarman I) to Angkor Thom built by Jayavarman VII and a lot of other temple complexes scattered in the general region.

The reign of Jayavarman VII saw the ascendary of Buddhism but his successor Jayavarman VIII wiped them out with equal ferocity and replaced them with Shaivite symbols such as the lingam. The kingdom finally faded away due to conflicts with neighboring Cham (Vietnamese) and Ayutthaya (Thai) kingdoms.… (more)

A very interesting analysis of the Kingdom of Angkor through archaeological evidence. It chronicles the entire duration of this civilization that lasted until about the 15th century.

The kings established an elite that established and used Sanskrit as their lingua franca while the common folk had to get by with Khmer. Hinduism was essentially the state religion with Vishnu being the chief diety. All the temples strarting with the magnificient Angkor Wat (the largest and most magnificient temple complex in the world built by Suryavarman I) to Angkor Thom built by Jayavarman VII and a lot of other temple complexes scattered in the general region.

The reign of Jayavarman VII saw the ascendary of Buddhism but his successor Jayavarman VIII wiped them out with equal ferocity and replaced them with Shaivite symbols such as the lingam. The kingdom finally faded away due to conflicts with neighboring Cham (Vietnamese) and Ayutthaya (Thai) kingdoms.… (more)