Khmer Kingdom (Angkor)

The most famous monument built by the Khmer Kingdom is Angkor Wat. Constructed in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II, it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It remains the largest religious monument in the world by land area.

The exact date of the collapse is debated, but historians generally agree the kingdom's major decline occurred in the 15th century. In 1431, the Ayutthaya Kingdom from modern-day Thailand sacked the city of Angkor. This event led to the eventual abandonment of the massive urban complex.

The capital of the Khmer Kingdom was centered in the city of Angkor, located in present-day northwestern Cambodia. At its peak, Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city in the world, supporting up to a million people. The sprawling city featured complex reservoirs and canals to manage the monsoon rains.

The Khmer Kingdom was initially heavily influenced by Hinduism, specifically the worship of Shiva. Later kings, such as Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, shifted the state religion to Mahayana Buddhism. Today, Cambodia remains a predominantly Theravada Buddhist nation.