Eyewitness History of the World 2.0

CAMBODIA

About AD 200, the Funan kingdom developed in what is now Cambodia 
and southern Vietnam. The kingdom prospered as a result of its 
position on the trade route between China and India. Archeological 
excavations show evidence of Buddhist worship at this time. However, 
by the 500s, small Hindu temples were being built. Inscriptions 
found in languages such as Sanskrit and Khmer show the influence 
of Indian culture, although India never actually ruled the area. 
Later Khmer dynasties considered the Funan civilization to be 
their ancestors.
KHMER KINGDOM
The Khmer kingdom was created in 802 when King Jayavarman II 
(c. 770850) united the Khmer people. At its peak in the late 
1100s, it ruled over Cambodia, and parts of modern-day Thailand 
and Vietnam, from its capital at Angkor. The Khmer people were 
builders, farmers, fishermen, and warriors. Although the kings 
followed the Hindu religion, the population was mainly Buddhist. 
The famous temple complex called Angkor Wat was built between 
1113 and 1150. It was surrounded by great walls and a moat, and 
decorated with sculptures showing scenes from everyday life, 
myths, and battles. In the late 1300s, invading armies from Thailand, 
then called Siam, forced the Khmer to abandon Angkor. For centuries, 
Angkor Wat was hidden by overgrowth in the jungle, until its 
rediscovery in 1860.
DECLINING POWER
From the 1400s Cambodian power declined gradually. In 1594 the 
new capital, Lovek, was destroyed by the Thai and abandoned. 
Centered at Oudong from 1623 to 1860, the Cambodian rulers came 
under the control of both the Thai and the Vietnamese at different 
times. In 1860 the capital was moved to Phnom Penh. Part of Cambodia 
was annexed by the Vietnamese, who in 1836 occupied Phnom Penh 
itself. However, they were driven out by a rebellion in 1845.
FRENCH PROTECTORATE
In 1863 Cambodia was forced to submit to a French protectorate. 
Under French rule, the Cambodian monarchy remained intact, but 
had little power. After the Cambodians staged rebellions against 
the French in the 1860s and 1880s, French control became much 
tighter. Cambodia was occupied by the Japanese during World War 
II (19391945). At the end of the war, King Norodum Sihanouk 
(born 1922) made a declaration of independence, but France quickly 
reasserted its authority.
INDEPENDENCE
Cambodia became an independent country in 1953. King Sihanouk 
abdicated the throne in 1955 in favor of his father but remained 
the effective leader of the Cambodian people, becoming head of 
state in 1960. He sought to govern the country along more socialist 
principles. In 1964 Sihanouk broke off diplomatic relations with 
the United States, claiming that they were plotting to overthrow 
him. From 1967, he had to give way to right-wing elements in 
his government. At the same time, growing peasant unrest gave 
left-wing leaders an opportunity to establish power in rural 
areas.
THE KHMER ROUGE
Sihanouk managed to secure Cambodias neutrality at the beginning 
of the Vietnam War. However, in 1970 Sihanouks prime minister, 
General Lon Nol, supported by the United States, seized power 
and sent troops to fight against the Viet Cong on the Cambodian 
border. U.S. air raids took place over Cambodian territory to 
support Lon Nols efforts against the Viet Cong. Meanwhile the 
Cambodian communists, the Khmer Rouge, actively supported the 
Viet Cong. This conflict marked the beginning of a five-year 
civil war in Cambodia, which was finally won by the Khmer Rouge 
in 1975. King Sihanouk, who had followed the conflict from exile 
in China, returned to Phnom Penh in 1975 to resume the position 
of head of state. However, he resigned after only three months 
due to the terrible brutality of the Khmer Rouge. Under the leadership 
of Pol Pot (born 1928), many thousands of people living in urban 
areas were forced to relocate to the countryside to work on cooperatives. 
Hundreds of thousands of people died as famine struck and diseases 
were rife. Many others died at the hands of Khmer officials.
VIETNAMESE INVASION
The Vietnamese invaded Cambodia in 1978 and toppled the Khmer 
Rouge from power. Vietnam installed a pro-Vietnamese government, 
but it was not recognized by the United Nations. Cambodia endured 
ongoing guerrilla warfare for ten years, until Vietnam bowed 
to international pressure and withdrew its troops from Cambodian 
territory.
KING REINSTATED
In 1991 the warring factions signed a peace agreement in Paris. 
Sihanouk was reinstated as the head of state in 1991, and in 
1993 he returned to the throne. However, fighting continued as 
the Khmer Rouge refused to take part in elections and failed 
to honor the peace agreement. In 1994 the Khmer Rouge was banned. 
Soon afterward it was announced that three Western hostages taken 
by Khmer Rouge had been killed.

Copyright 1995, 1998 Dorling Kindersley
