Angkor - World Cultural Heritage in Cambodia

In 1992, the United Nations Science, Education and Culture Organization recognized the Angkor population as a World Cultural Heritage.

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Stretching over about 400 km2, including Angkor Park forest area. It contains many magnificent traces of the capital through various Khmer empires, historically recorded from the 9th to the 15th century. Angkor populations include famous temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor. Thom, the Bayon temple with its numerous sculptural decorations.

At the beginning of the 9th century, the two countries that included the territory of Cambodia and Jayavarman II (a Khmer king) - who laid the foundation of the Khmer Empire built up and established Yashodapura - the capital of the Khmer Empire. Since the 9th century until the 15th century, Yashodapura was later renamed Angkor .

Angkor in ancient Khmer means the magical capital or city. Monuments and temples located in the Siem Reap area today are the remains of Angkor's capital. These works clearly show a culture and architecture of ancient Khmer. At the height of Angkor's civilization, the capital area had a population of about 1 million. Khmer kings underwent many dynasties that built the great irrigation and temples of which the temples of Angkor Wat are typical.

Southeast Asia has been inhabited since the Stone Age but it was not until the civilization of Angkor actually formed in the first century AD, the life of this place grew. More and more traders from India and China come here to trade goods and trade. Indian missionaries also followed these merchant boats to spread culture and religion including Hinduism and Buddhism. Therefore Angkor culture has a lot of influence of Indian culture .

Angkor's population is influenced by ancient Khmer art with a unique architecture, highlighting Khmer artistic values. Angkor's population plays an important role in its special evolution and greatly influences other Cambodian architectures. Another very important element of Angkor is the irrigation system built over many dynasties. The irrigation system of the area is based on large reservoirs. These reservoirs not only help people in the area but also help develop Angkor's economic infrastructure.

Khmer architecture develops most of the Indian subcontinent, from which it quickly becomes distinctly different with its distinctive characteristics when combined with the cultures of the countries. The result is a new artistic horizon that has formed in Eastern architecture.

Angkor's ruins lie between the forest and agricultural land to the north of Lake Tonle (Tonle Sap) and south of Kulen hill, near Siem Reap (Siem Reap) today (13 ° 24'N, 103 ° 51'E). Angkor populations have over 1000 temples with different sizes and shapes bearing Khmer architectural style.

After the 13th century, Angkor suffered from Thai invasions. After seven consecutive months of siege in Angkor, the reigning king at that time, Ponjhea Yat, decided to move the measurement from Angkor to Phnom Penh . The move of the capital marked a turning point in the transition from an agricultural economy to a commercial economy because Phnom Penh was a confluence of rivers. When the capital was moved, the temples at Angkor continued to operate, but the function changed over time. From the 16th century to the 19th century, some Western explorers and missionaries came to Angkor and discovered the beauty and historical architectural values ​​of this population area.

In 2007, international researchers used satellite imaging technology and other modern techniques to capture the Angkor population. Then conclude that Angkor is the city of the world's largest pre-industrial era with an area of ​​1150 square miles. The competitive city this criterion closest to Angkor is the Tikal city of Maya culture in Guatemala with a total area of ​​about 50 km2.