Social and cultural implications of the regime

Thousands starved or died of disease during the evacuation and its aftermath. Many of those forced to evacuate the cities were resettled in newly created villages, which lacked food, agricultural implements, and medical care. Many who lived in cities had lost the skills necessary for survival in an agrarian environment. Thousands starved before the first harvest. Hunger and malnutrition—bordering on starvation—were constant during those years. Most military and civilian leaders of

Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge era) (1975–79)

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Main articles: Democratic Kampuchea and Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia

Flag of Democratic Kampuchea

Flag of the Communist Party of Kampuchea

Khmer Republic and the War (1970–75)

Khmer Republic and the War (1970–75)

Map of Asia in 1890

Main articles: Cambodian Civil War, Khmer Republic and Kingdom of Cambodia (1975–76)

French colonial period (1863–1953)

Main articles: French Protectorate of Cambodia and French Indochina

Norodom of Cambodia

French Indochina in 1913.

In 1863, King Norodom signed an agreement with the French to establish a protectorate over his kingdom. The state gradually came under French colonial rule.

Dark ages of Cambodia (1431–1863)

Main article: Dark ages of Cambodia

Flag of Cambodia pre-1864.

The term "Dark ages of Cambodia", also the "Middle Period"^[88] refers to the historical era from the early 15th century to 1863, the beginning of the French Protectorate of Cambodia. Reliable sources - particularly for the 15th and 16th century - are very rare. A conclusive explanation that relates to concrete events manifesting the decline of the Khmer Empire has not yet been produced.^[89][90] However, most modern historians consent that several distinct and gradual changes of religious, dynastic, administrative and military nature, environmental problems and ecological imbalance^[91] coincided with shifts of power in Indochina and must all be taken into account to make an interpretation.^[92][93][94] In recent years focus has notably shifted towards studies on climate changes, human–environment interactions and the ecological consequences.^{[95][96][97][98]}
Epigraphy in temples, ends in the third decade of the fourteenth, and does not resume until the mid-16th century. Recording of the Royal Chronology discontinues with King Jayavarman IX Parameshwara (or Jayavarma-Paramesvara) - there exists not a single contemporary record of even a king’s name for over 200 years. Construction of monumental temple architecture had come to a standstill after Jayavarman VIIth reign. According to author Michael Vickery there only exist external sources for Cambodia’s 15th century, the Chinese Ming Shilu annals and the earliest Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya.^[99][100] Wang Shi-zhen (王世貞), a Chinese scholar of the 16th century, remarked: "The official historians are unrestrained and are skilful at concealing the truth; but the memorials and statutes they record and the documents they copy cannot be discarded."^[101][102]
The central reference point for the entire 15th century is a Siamese intervention of some undisclosed nature at the capital Yasodharapura (Angkor Thom) around the year 1431. Historians relate the event to the shift of Cambodia's political centre southward to the region of Phnom Penh, Longvek and later Oudong.^[103][104]

"As Siam became Cambodia’s primary nemesis after the demise of Angkor, it put an end to the pattern of ambivalent sovereignty that Cambodia’s imperial experiment on its western frontier had so effectively prolonged."^[105]

"Longvek, capital of Cambodia"

Sources for the 16th century are more numerous. The kingdom is centred at the Mekong, prospering as an integral part of the Asian maritime trade network,^[106][107] via which the first contact with

Khmer Empire (802–1431)

Main article: Khmer Empire

Archers mounted on elephants

Map of South-east Asia c. 900 AD, showing the Khmer Empire in red, Champa in yellow and Haripunjaya in light Green plus additional surrounding states.

The six centuries of the Khmer Empire are characterised by unparalleled technical and artistic

Chenla Kingdom (6th century – 802)

Main article: Chenla Kingdom

Ancient Khmer script

The History of the Chinese Sui dynasty contains records that a state called Chenla sent an embassy to China in 616 or 617 C.E. It says, that Chenla was a vassal of Funan, but under its ruler Citrasena-Mahendravarman conquered Funan and gained independence.^[70]