Angkor And The Khmer Civilization

A panoramic tour of Cambodian history traces its rediscovery in the mid-nineteenth century and what the latest findings have revealed about Khmer civilization, documenting such periods as the five-century part-Hindu, part-Buddhist empire, the gradual abandonment of Angkor, and the move of the capital downriver to the Phnom Penh area. Reprint.

The first chapter of the book sets out the historical framework of the Khmer empire and explores the various aspects of its civilisation, from the Indian-influenced court to the people of the rice paddies. It describes the Khmer's religious concepts, most important myths, and the structure of society, dominated by the powerful figure of the sovereign who, being at the centre of the water-management system, guaranteed the survival of his people. The book continues with details concerning the everyday life of the people, their houses, customs, traditions, and most important ceremonies. An ample section of text is dedicated to archaeological excursions. ILLUSTRATIONS: 406 photographs

The ancient city of Angkor has fascinated Westerners since its rediscovery in the mid-nineteenth century. A great deal is now known about the brilliant Khmer civilization that flourished among the monsoon forests and rice paddies of mainland Southeast Asia, thanks to the pioneering work of French scholars and the application of modern archaeological techniques such as remote sensing from the space shuttle. The classic-period Khmer kings ruled over their part-Hindu and part-Buddhist empire from a.d. 802 for more than five centuries. This period saw the construction of many architectural masterpieces, including the huge capital city of Angkor, with the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure. Numerous other provincial centers, bound together by an impressive imperial road system, were scattered across the Cambodian Plain, northeast Thailand, southern Laos, and the Delta of southern Vietnam. Khmer civilization by no means disappeared with the gradual abandonment of Angkor that began in the fourteenth century, and the book's final chapter describes the conversion of the Khmer to a different kind of Buddhism, the move of the capital downriver to the Phnom Penh area, and the reorientation of the Khmer state to maritime trade. Angkor and the Khmer Civilization presents a concise but complete picture of Khmer cultural history from the Stone Age until the establishment of the French Protectorate in 1863, and is lavishly illustrated with maps, plans, drawings, and photographs. Drawing on the latest archaeological research, Michael Coe brings to life Angkor's extraordinary society and culture. 130 illustrations, 22 in color.

"The Civilization of Angkor is remarkable and unique in that it delves into the prehistoric roots of the civilization. Higham is THE international authority on southeast Asian archaeology, and presents an up-to-date and provocative synthesis of Angkor."--Brian Fagan, author of Floods, Famines, and Emperors: El Nino and the Fate of Civilizations, and co-editor of The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. "In blending archaeological and documentary data to chronicle the rise of this important Southeast Asian state, Higham's rich history of Angkor effectively refutes traditional models of state development in the Mekong region and offers insights regarding the nature of Angkor and the processes that led to its emergence."--Miriam Stark, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Hawai'i and editor of The Archaeology of Social Boundaries

This new edition of the concise but authoritative survey of Khmer culture incorporates new discoveries that will completely rewrite history.

An indispensible introduction to the history and culture of one of the great classical civilizations. Angkor was the capital of an empire that covered most of Indochina, and this guidebook covers not only Angkor in detail but many other sites in Cambodia and Thailand. Snellgrove paints a vivid picture of the Khmer empire, putting the monuments in their historical, artistic and social context. His seemingly boundless energy and intellectual curiosity make this a fascinating read and always informative companion.

Between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, Indochina was ruled by one of the most powerful and productive dynasties in its history: the Khmer. This book sets out the historical framework of the empire, exploring the various aspects of the Khmer civilization, from the Indian-influenced court to the people of the rice-paddies, the everyday life of the people, their houses, customs, traditions, and most important ceremonies.

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