Angkor Wat is a concrete expression of the architecture of power and a striking symbol of the power of architecture. With its massive scale and painst

Virtual Angkor

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2021-09-25 15:30:03

Angkor Wat is a concrete expression of the architecture of power and a striking symbol of the power of architecture. With its massive scale and painstaking detail, the temple was a symbol of Suryavarman II’s absolute rule over his kingdom. This module examines Angkorian kingship with a focus on architecture and design.

Water was the lifeblood of the Khmer empire but climate variability, particularly a series of long droughts and intense monsoons, strained the massive infrastructure at Angkor and may have contributed to the decline of the city. This module examines the relationship between the Khmers and their environment, focusing primarily on the intricate water management network that made Angkor a so-called ‘hydraulic city’.

The site of Angkor may look isolated today but in the heyday of the Khmer Empire, it was an important regional centre for trade and diplomacy. Explore the marketplace with Zhou Daguan and discover the intricate networks of commerce and diplomacy that crisscrossed East and Southeast Asia in the premodern period.