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Founded in 802 CE, until its demise in the fourteenth century CE, the Khmer Empire held sway over much of Southeast Asia. At the heart of the empire was the highly urbanized capital city Yashodarapura (Angkor), containing the royal palace, the state temple, and enormous artificial reservoirs or barays. The empire’s numerous provinces were connected to the central bureaucracy by a system of major and secondary roads. In a moneyless economy, taxes were levied in kind, principally rice, and market transactions were by barter. Over these roads traveled the imperial armies at times of foreign wars or invasion, or local revolt; army units consisted of foot soldiers, horse cavalry, and war elephants. Several factors led to the empire’s collapse, including agricultural failure and the silting of the barays; and outside attack, especially from the newly powerful Thai. |
