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The Khmer Empire's Sudden Collapse Explained — Fexingo History

History EN ↓ 152 episodes

Built around the enigmatic ruins of Angkor Wat, the Khmer Empire once dominated Southeast Asia, but its sudden collapse in the 15th century remains one of history's great puzzles. Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the empire's rise under Jayavarman II, its golden age under Suryavarman II, and the gradual unraveling that followed. They examine the religious shift from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism, the massive water management system that sustained Angkor, and the environmental stresses—droughts, floods, deforestation—that may have triggered its downfall. The show delves into the sacking...

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Episodes

The Great Angkor Drain: How Water Engineering Doomed the Khmer Empire 24.04.2026 8:06

Angkor was a hydrological marvel. The Khmer Empire built the world's largest pre-industrial water management system: massive reservoirs called baray, intricate canals, and a network that transformed monsoon flooding into agricultural abundance. But the very system that made Angkor great may have triggered its collapse. This episode follows Lucas and Luna as they explore the hidden engineering bene...

The Khmer Empire's Sudden Collapse Explained 23.04.2026 6:09

In the 12th century, the Khmer Empire was the most powerful kingdom in Southeast Asia, with its capital at Angkor covering an area larger than modern New York City. Its kings built Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument, and controlled a vast network of irrigation canals that sustained a million people. Then, in the 15th century, it collapsed. This pilot episode of a new podcast series...