The country of Cambodia was inhabited in 4,000 B.C. Funan was the very first empire of Cambodia. It was also the first great empire in Southeast Asia. It was heavily influenced by India. In 790 A.D., Khmer ruler Jayavaman II came to power. His reign signaled the beginning of the Golden Age for the Khmers. His dynasty lasted from the 9th century to the 15th century. One of the greatest monarchs was Suryavarman II, who built the temple of Angkor Wat. The Angkor Empire controlled much of Southeast Asia.
Recent History:
In 1869, Norodom became the king. After this, Cambodia became part of Indochina. During the 1500s and the 1600s, Thailand was Cambodia’s main enemy. Cambodia invaded Thailand in 1556. The Thais won the war with Cambodia. In the 1620s, Vietnam threw the Thais out of Cambodia. In the 1770s, the Khemers sought help from the Thais. In 1833, the Vietnamese threw the Thais out of Cambodia. In 1848, the Thais drove the Vietnamese out again.
Japanese forces occupied Cambodia during World War II. In the 1970s, the Vietnam War between North and South Vietnam spread into Cambodia. Approximately a half million Cambodians were killed in that war from the bombings.
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