The Medieval City in Cambodia that Rivalled Rome
The Story of Angkor
Angkor Wat is one of the great wonders of the world, with the temples being the staple of Cambodian architecture and culture, but what many people don’t know, is the city. Just north of the temple lay a huge city that had been swept away, but at its peak during the Medieval Ages, Angkor Thom, or the “Great City”, held up to 1 million inhabitants. Furthermore, it was unique, being a metropolis of urban sprawl rather than the dense and dirty cities of Europe and the Middle East. Due to its sprawling nature, a water system of unprecedented scale kept the city functioning as a major metropolis of the world before causing its downfall after six centuries of domination.
Foundations
The Khmer Kingdom was one of the greatest empires of South East Asia, being a Hindu-dominated centre of culture and commerce. However, King Jayavarman VII turned his state from a kingdom of gold to an empire of monuments and cultures. Ushering in ambitious construction projects, Jayavarman VII built more temples and buildings than any of his predecessors, but the most successful construction project was from his royal capital of Angkor Thom.
