Kings: - Jayavarman II - Suryavarman II - Jayavarman VII - Jayavarman VIII The Mekong River: - Wealth - Agriculture - Trade - Power - Threats

1. KHMER EMPIRE
R U L E R S
A G R I C U L T U R E
T R A D E
W E A L T H

2. REFRESH
• Where in the modern world is the Khmer Empire?
• What is the most well-known capital of the Khmer Empire?
• What are the ancient temples modelled on?
• Can you name the two prominent temples we looked at last lesson?
• Can you name some features of the temples?
• Why are the temples important historically?

3. MIND MAP

4. KINGS OF THE KHMER DYNASTY
• Jayavarman II (Founder)
• Yasodharapura (First city of Angkor)
• Suryavarman II (Angkor Wat)
• Jayavarman VII (Angkor Thom)
• Jayavarman VIII (Last boom)

5. JAYAVARMAN II
• Founded Angkor
• Competed against other
kings and conquered a small
area to the north of
Cambodia
• Conducted a ritual to
celebrate the Kambuja
people from Javanese
dominion (Indonesia)
• Declared independence of

6. GOLDEN AGE
•SURYAVARMAN II
•JAYAVARMAN VII
•JAYAVARMAN VIII

7. SURYAVARMAN II
• 11th century
• Ruled from 1113 – 1150
• The kingdom finally united as one
• Built Angkor Wat and dedicated it to the Hindu God
Vishnu (took 37 years)
• 1177 the capital (Angkor) was raided by rival kings –
Suryavarman lost a major naval battle and Angkor
was looted

8. JAYAVARMAN VII
• 1181-1219
• Cambodia’s ‘greatst king’
• Built Angkor Thom – new capital
• Gathered an army and retook the
capital of Angkor from the Cham
people
• Continued warring against
neighbouring kingdoms for 22 years
• Led the Khmer people to a successful
territorial battle against Champa which
they won (1203)
• Built the Bayon Temple in the centre of
Angkor Thom

9. JAYAVARMAN VIII
• Took over from Indravarman II (son of Jayavarman II)
• 1243-1295
• Devotee of Hinduism and the deity Shiva
• Opponent of Buddhism
• Destroyed Buddhist temples and shrines or converted
them to Hindu ones
• Avoided war by paying debts to Mongol invader Sogetu
(also the Governor of Guangzhou, China)
• Succeeded by his son-in-law Srindravarman (a devout
Buddhist)

10. WEALTH
With your partner list some dot point answers to these questions:
- How do you think the Angkor people gained power?
- How did the Angkor people become wealthy?
- What did the Angkor people trade?
- Who did the Angkor people trade with?

11. AGRICULTURE
• Rice farmers
• Farmers:
- Rice
- Sugar palm trees
- Fruit trees
- Vegetables
- Palm wine
- Coconut
• Planted rice fields next to the Mekong river
• Other farms were connected to the river through a network
of canals/water reservoirs

12. MEKONG RIVER
WITH YOUR PARTNER:
Can you:
- Locate the Mekong River?
- Shade over the line of the Mekong River in
blue?
- List which countries the Mekong River
travels through?
- List the advantages and disadvantages of
the Mekong river for the Khmer Empire?
(Aim to brainstorm at least 3 advantages
and disadvantages)

13. KHMER EMPIRE
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES