Cambodia and Angkor

For nearly 6 centuries between 802 and 1432, Angkor served as the political and religious center of the Khmer Empire. Located in northwest Cambodia, the remains of Angkor now occupy about 77 square miles.

Ancient Cambodia was highly influced by Hindu gods such as Vishnu and Shiva. After the 10th century, Buddhism gradually began to spread throughout the Khmer Empire. As a result, the arcitecture incorporates both the elements of Hinduism and Buddhism.

During the Vientam War, Vietnamese communists used Cambodia as a staging post and the US responded with large-scale bombings which killed thousands of Cambodians. During this time, the extreme Maoist party, lead by Pol Pot seized power and the Khmer Rouge killed an estimated two million Cambodians. In 1979 the Vietnamese overthrew the Khmer Rouge and in 1998, Pol Pot died.

With the collapse of the Khmer Rouge, Angkor has reopened to the world. It is a huge archaelogical site, and the largest temple in southeast Asia.