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The Khmer Empire was a great civilization located in Southeast Asia and rose in 802 C.E. It was the largest and most continuous empire of that region. From 800-1400 C.E., the Khmer Empire had expanded and covered most of modern Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (Udon, 5). The majority of the people were peasants and farmers. It began when the reigning king, Jayavarman II declared full independence from Srivijaya, an empire that ruled in modern Indonesia. The people of Khmer were great stone builders and built multiple temples, statues, and monuments honouring their gods, past kings and expressing their religion. Just like all other civilization, once an empire reached its peak, they collapse. The cause of the ultimate decline of the Khmer Empire in the 14th century C.E. was the constant conflicts with the neighbouring empires, such as the Chams and the Thais, due to its resources and territory as well as the lost of a great king Jayavarman VII.
The Empire had taken a huge blow when their “god-king” Jayavarman VII had passed on and left the people without a strong leader to lead them through the crisis that was happening. In 1150 C.E., the Khmer Empire went into slight decline after the death of King Suryavarman. The Chams took advantage of the decline and took over the empire’s capital, Yashodharapura, in 1177 C.E. A Khmer prince who later became King Jayavarman VII rallied his people and forced the Chams out of their land. He took the throne in 1181 C.E. and restored the empire to their former glory. He constructed the walled city of Angkor Thom and the temple known as the Bayon. He also constructed well-known temples such as Ta Prohm and Preah Khan (both are dedicated to his mother and his father). During the large construction program, the religion of the Empire changed from Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism because Jayavarman’s own faith was Buddhism. During his reign, he had the Hindu temples to be altered to display images of the Buddha. Jayavarman VII...
