Cambodia had its beginnings in the golden age of the Khmer Empire in the 13th to 15th centuries. The empire, which named Cambodia, or Kampuchea, ruled large territories from its capital, Angkor, in Western Cambodia. The Khmer were ruthless and almost unstoppable as they continued their conquests of the surrounding areas. In the early 1300’s, their leader, Jayavarman VII, was killed by the Dai Viet and they experienced a gradual decline. The monarchy in Angkor survived until 1431, when the Thai captured the city and the Cambodian king fled to the South. Interestingly, the decline of the Khmer empire coincided with aggressiveness of neighboring peoples, interdynastic strife, and a shortage of rice surpluses.
In the interim three hundred years between the Khmer Empire’s golden age and the Cambodian genocide, Cambodia became a protectorate of Siam and then France. On March 9th, 1945, when Cambodia was occupied by Japan, The young king Sihanouk declared it an independent kingdom and reinstated many old Khmer values, such as the traditional script rather than the romanticized French version. Sihanouk crusade for the independence of Cambodia was marred by strife with Vietnam. In 1970, Sihanouk was kicked out through a military coup and the Khmer Republic was created, led by Lon Nol. For more information about the beginning of the Cambodian Genocide enacted by the Khmer Republic, visit our How it Started page!
In the interim three hundred years between the Khmer Empire’s golden age and the Cambodian genocide, Cambodia became a protectorate of Siam and then France. On March 9th, 1945, when Cambodia was occupied by Japan, The young king Sihanouk declared it an independent kingdom and reinstated many old Khmer values, such as the traditional script rather than the romanticized French version. Sihanouk crusade for the independence of Cambodia was marred by strife with Vietnam. In 1970, Sihanouk was kicked out through a military coup and the Khmer Republic was created, led by Lon Nol. For more information about the beginning of the Cambodian Genocide enacted by the Khmer Republic, visit our How it Started page!