Figure 1.--This unidentified Cambodian government boy soldier was photographed April 3, 1971. The new service press photo was headed, "Young Warrior." The caption read, "A young Canbodian soldier, armed with a World War II vintage rifle, stands with his amunition sling on bnks of the Bassac River near Phnom Penh. The Cambodian high command announced a plan Saturday which would take young boys and women out of front-line combat units. With the armed forces now numbering around 200,000, women will be given special schooling and training."

The Funan Kingdom is seen as the important first Cambodian civilization (1st century BC). The kingdom was strongly influenced by Indian culture and Indian influences are observeable in its culture, art, and political system. The Funan Kingdom introduced an alphabetical system, religions and architectural styles were also Indian contributions to the Funan Kingdom. The Funan Kingdom influenced a commercial culture in the Mekong Delta (1st-6th centuries AD). A Kymer Empire began to rise (6th century). Jayavarman II, a Khmer prince, founded a new kingdom (9th century AD). Strongly influenced by India and Hinduism, he founded a cult that centered on Shiva. Jayavarman declared himself a devaraja (god-king), linking himself to Shiva. Jayavarman ininiated a vast building program, including both architecture and sculpture. Jayavarman and his successors constructed a vast irrigation system around Angkor. This led to a huge increase in agricultural production which supported a Kymer Empire (9th-15th centuries). The Angkor Wat complex is the result of the Kymer Empire. There may be as many as 1,000 temples there, many with inscriptions of historical importance. The Kymer Empire expanded into much od Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia). The power of the Kymer Empire began to decline (13th century). As the only surviving historical writings are temple inscriptions, the reason for this decline are not fully understood. There are various theories, including the increasing military power of Thai kings, the rise of Theravada Buddhism, and enviromental changes reducing the productivity of irrigated the rice raising areas around Angkor. Camboduan authors describe the "Dark Ages" of Cambodian history (13-14th centurues). Thai and Vietnamese rulers gradually encroached upon Cambodia (15th-19th centuries). What was left of Cambodia in the early 19th century were invaded by Vietnamese and Thai armies which fought over control of the country (1830s). Large areas of Cambodia were devestated. King Norodom requested French intervention (1854). He signed a treaty with France. This ended the wars with Thailand and Vietnam, but converted Cambodia into a French protectorate. The French formally institutd a protectorate (1863). The French built many improvements designed to modernize the country's infrastructure, especially trade and transportation. They gave relatively little attention to the educational system, in part so as not to dirupt traditioinal Kymer society. France made Cambodia a part of the Union of Indo China (1884). The French-Simese Trearty restored the western provinces of Cambodia (1907). After the First Vietamese War, France granted Cambodia independence (1955). The Cambodian momarchy under King Sihanouk sought to steer a neutral path, but Cambodia was eventually drawn into the Vietnam War. The victory of the Kymer Rouge (1975) ushered in a tragic period of Cambodia history. The Kymer Rouge sought to remake Cambodian society through a terrible genocide.

Pre-history

The first humans to reach Cambodia were probably small groups of nomads traveling from Africa who eventually reached Meonesia, including Australia. They left no trace and this migration is projected from DNA evidence from Africa, India, and Melonesia. Archaeological work suggests the area was inhabited by neolithic people (second millennia BC). Gradually they developed relatively stable, organized societies and settled agriculture. The most advanced settlements were located in the south along the coast and in the lower Mekong River valley and delta regions. Agriculture was based on irrigated rice fields, suggesting a Chinese cultural influebnce. They also kept domesticated animals. There is no certainty as to their origins. The current consensus is that they were Austroasiatic in origin. The modern Khmer people seem to have migrated from southeastern China into the Indochinese Peninsula (late in the first millenium BC). They Kymer bapparently before the other important Southeast Asiab ethnic groups (Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese). They are apparently ethnically related to the modern inhabitants of insular Southeast Asia and many Pacific Islands. They developed metal working skills, including both bronze and eventually iron. There is evidence of navigational skills. Non-Khmer people who arrived subsequently seem to have intermarried with them.

Funsan Kingdom (1st century BC-6th century AD)

The Funan Kingdom is seen as the first important Cambodian civilization (1st century BC). Very little is knowen about Funsan. Chinese sources report ebasaries from Funsan (3rd to 6th centuries AD). Little about its history is known. But from both the Chinese and Indian contacts, wide-flung trading contascts can be inferred. A Roman-style lamp has been reported at a Funsan site. The kingdom was strongly influenced by Indian culture and Indian influences are observeable in its culture, art, and political system. The Funan Kingdom introduced an alphabetical system, religions and architectural styles were also Indian contributions to the Funan Kingdom. The Funan Kingdom influenced a commercial culture in the Mekong Delta. One notable observation is that while there were trade ciontacts with China, the Indian cultural influence was dominant.

Kymer Empire (6th-13th century AD)

A Kymer culture began to rise (6th century). Jayavarman II, a Khmer prince, founded a new kingdom (9th century AD). The Kymer originated when Prince Jayavarman seceded from the Chenla Kingdom. Strongly influenced by India and Hinduism, he founded a cult that centered on Shiva. Jayavarman declared himself a devaraja (god-king), linking himself to Shiva. Jayavarman ininiated a vast building program, including both architecture and sculpture. Jayavarman and his successors constructed a vast irrigation system around Angkor. This led to a huge increase in agricultural production which richly supported the developing Kymer Empire (9th-15th centuries). The Kymer Empire expanded into much of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia). The Khmer Empire developed into the largest continuous Southeast Asian empire. There were varying cultural, political, and trade relations with Java, and subsequently with the Srivijaya empire to the south. The most famous artifact of the Kymer Empire is Angkor Wat. This is a temple complex at Angkor in western Cambodia. It was built for king Suryavarman II (early 12th century). It was the state temple at the center of his capital city. There may be as many as 1,000 temples there, many with inscriptions of historical importance. It is the only Kymer site to have remained an important religious center since its foundation. At first it was used by Hindus and dedicated to the god Vishnu. It was subsequently after the Kymer era used by Buddhist. The temple is an example of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It is a symbol of modern Cambodia and is depicted on the national flag. The power of the Kymer Empire began to decline (13th century). As the only surviving historical writings are temple inscriptions, the reason for this decline are not fully understood. There are various theories, including the increasing military power of Thai kings, the rise of Theravada Buddhism, and enviromental changes reducing the productivity of irrigated rice raising areas around Angkor.

Dark Ages

Camboduan authors describe the "Dark Ages" of Cambodian history (13-14th centurues). Thai and Vietnamese rulers gradually encroached upon Cambodia (15th-19th centuries). Thai invaders conquered Angkor (1431). The Khmer then moved their capital to Phnom Penh which as a result became an important Mekong trade center. Unsustainable onstruction projects and divisions in the royal family eventuaslly sealed the end of the Khmer empire (17th century). What was left of Cambodia in the early 19th century were invaded by Vietnamese (early-19th century), Viertnamese and Thai armies which fought over control of the country (1830s).

French Colonia Era (1854-1953)

Large areas of Cambodia were devestated by the fighting between the Thais and Vietnamese for control. King Norodom requested French intervention (1854). He signed a treaty with France. This ended the wars with Thailand and Vietnam, but converted Cambodia into a French protectorate. The French formally institutd a protectorate (1863). The French made many improvements designed to modernize the country's infrastructure, especially trade and transportation. They gave relatively little attention to the educational system, in part so as not to disrupt traditional Kymer society. France made Cambodia a part of the Union of Indo China (1884). The French-Siamese Treaty restored the western provinces of Cambodia (1907).

World War II (1939-45)

Cambodia was part of French Indochina during World War II. It played very little role in the War, but was significantly affected by it. The Japanese seized Indo-china after the fall of France (June 1940). They first occupied northern Indo-China (Vietnam). When King Monivong died (1941), the Japanese had already occupied the rest of Indochina. They left the French nominally in control admiistratively, but subject to Japanese direction. The French governor-general, Jean Decoux, who had to remain loyal to Vichy, chose Monivong’s grandson, Prince Norodom Sihanouk for the Cambodian throne. Decoux's choice was in part due to Sihanouk's youth. He was only 18 years old, Decoux assumed that he could be easily manipulated. In this Decoux underestimated the Prince's political skills. Understanding the realities of Japanese rule, the new King was a dutiful instrument of the French and Japanese. And because of geography there were no battles fought in Cambodia. The war was fought first south in Malaya and Singapore and then to the west in Burma. As Thailand had joined the Axis, Cambodia found itself deep in the Japanese Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The primary impact for rhe Cambodians was Japanese plundering of the economy. The libearation of France and the fall of Vichy (August 1944) affected Cambodia at the end of the War. The Free French Government ordered the French forcesin Indochina to rise against the Japanese (March 1945). It proved to be a disaster with the Japanese easily defeating the weak French forces. Most of the fighting occurred in western Indochina (Vietmam). Direct Japanese rule, led to some degree of Cambodian political autonomy. Actually pressed by the Japanese, Sihanouk declared independence from French rule. Thus for the final few months of the War, an independent Cambodin government was led by Son Ngoc Thanh, a former editor of Nagara Vatta who had been am exiled in Japan (1942). The Japanese surrendered (August 1945). The French retuned (October 1945). They arrested Son Ngoc Thanh as a collaborator and reestablished colonial control. Cambodia became an “autonomous state within the French Union". A constitution was issued and approved political parties were allowed to organize. The French were, however, still firmly in control.

Cold War Era (1945-89)

One of the most tragic Cold War experiences was that of Cambodia. Cambodia was eventually drawn into the Vietnam War. Sihanouk attempted to remain neutral in the Cold War struggle between the United Staes and the Soviet Union as the North Vietnamese attempted to seize South Vietnam by supporting the Viet Cong. He changed his position when President Johnson decided to intervene massively in the War (1965). He broke diplomatic relations with the United States. He also allowed the Communist Vietnamese to set up bases in eastern Cambodia to support their forces across the border in Vietnam. The War hurt the Cambodian economy. Sihanouk decided to renew diplomatic relarions with the United States in the hope of obtaining American assistance. The United States began planning to bomb the Vietnamese bases in Cambodia. While Sihanouk was out of the country, he was overthrowen (1970). He sought refuge in China. The Khmer Rouge seized control of Phnom Penh at about the same time the North Vietnamese entered Saigon (1965). The victory of the Kymer Rouge (1975) ushered in a tragic period of Cambodia history. The Kymer Rouge sought to remake Cambodian society through a terrible genocide. The Khmer Rouge were an essentially rural peasant army. They were largely hostile to urban Cambodians. The Kymer Rouge leaderhip called Ankar ordered Canodian cities to be enptied and the people forced into the countryside. They were forced to work as essentially state slaves in various forms of prinitive agriculture. The leading figure in Ankar was Saloth Sar who became known as Pol Pot. The government was the Democratic Kampochea (DK). It was eun bt by rural Cambodians who were uneducated and largely illiterate. The basic qualification was participation in the Khmer Rouge during the war. Ankar ordered that educated people be identified. Any one involved with the previous regime such as goivernment workers, police, soldiers, teachers, and others were arrested and executed, often after beiung tortured. The Kymer Rouge muredered an estimated 20 percent of Cambodia's population. Most were murdered outright Others died from abuse, malnutrition, and lack of medical care.

People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979- )

The Vietnamese set up a puppet regime -- People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). The Vietnamese used former KR personnel as well as Cambodians who had fled into Vietnam before the KR victory in 1975. The PBK was led by Heng Samrin. Few new governments faced such daunting prolems with so few resources. The Vietnaamese were sucesful at making war, but like othr Communist regimes unable to manage a sucessful economy. Vietnam became pne of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia while neighnoring counttries made conomic progress. As a result, while the North Vietnamese drove out the Kymer Rouge, they could not provide significant economic aid. As the people trickled back from the countryside, they fojund few operating anenities or a Givernment unable to provide basic necesities. The PRK faced a task of rebuilding a country more devestated than most countries had been by World War II. Nearly 2 million people had been murdered or died from diseases due hunger, over work, and a lack of medicines and medical services. Tens of thousands were made widows and orphans. The millions who managed to survive were severely traumatized by their horrendous experiences--leading to mental disorders that lasted a life time. Several hundred thousand Cambodians had fled their country and became refugees. The Civil War combatant forces laid millions of mines leading to thousands of deaths and disabilities. These horrors continue to plge modern Cambodia.

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Created: 9:53 AM 1/10/2010
Last updated: 5:03 AM 2/16/2015