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The People Early history: 1800 years ago, Cambodia was a kingdom of Indian settlers, called Kambuja. These Indians were called Khmers. The mighty Khmer Empire flourished over much of Southeast Asia during the 12th century. Angor Wat (the temple above), the largest religious building in the world, was built during this period, representing the power of the empire. Created by a succession of the kings glorifying their godlike power, the temples of Angkor Tom (which includes Angkor Wat) span nine square kilometers. Jayavarman VII built most of the temples during his reign from 1181-1220. He was the son of Suryavarman II, who built Angkor Wat itself. Cambodians are very proud of their heritage - Angkor Wat is the national symbol of the country. Early art in these temples glorified Hindu gods, such as Hanuman (monkey god), Vishnu (creator god), and Shiva (god of war). Later, because Jayavarman VII's wife was Buddhist, images of Buddha and the Bodhisattva ( an individual whom Buddhists believe has reached enlightenment) began to appear. Temples were largely made of laterite, a volcanic stone. Recent history: In the 1860's, Cambodia was colonized by France, but was granted independence in 1953. King Norodom Sihanouk ruled the country until he was overthrown by a group called the Khmer Rouge (red Khmer). These people were disgruntled elite intellectuals who dreamed of a one-class society such as China's. They set about a violent restructuring of Cambodian society, their goal being to change all citizens into peasants who lived on communal farms.
The leader of this regime was Pol Pot; he and his soldiers all but destroyed Cambodian culture. Vietnam invaded the country in 1978, forced Pol Pot to flee, and installed Hun Sen as prime minister. Hun Sen has fought to keep power and implement reform. King Sihanouk is still king, but his power is largely ceremonial. His son Ranariddh is head of the senate, which has less power than Hun Sen's parliament. Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. People (about 80% of the population) mainly farm rice, work on rubber plantations, log, and fish for a living. People who live in urban areas such as Battambang, Phnom Penh, and Sihanoukville often sell crafts and food in market stalls. Among the poorest people are the hill tribes, not of Khmer descent like most of the population, who live in remote areas of the northeast. These people are subsistence farmers, eking out a meager existence in woven and thatched houses. Health in these areas is poor, and education nonexistent for many.
People in Cambodia today are trying to recapture their cultural traditions. Much of their culture was destroyed during the Pol Pot regime, when intellectuals were imprisoned and executed. It has been said that only one woman was left to costume Cambodian dancers. Mulberry trees, upon which silk worms thrive, were cut down, so the weaving industry went into extreme decline. Craftspeople, such as stone cutters, were forced to work on the farming collectives. Music was gone from people's lives, and traditional festivals were banned. Today, the Ministry of Culture is headed by one of King Sihanouk's daughters, Bopha Devi. Entire village populations, sponsored by international agencies, are weaving silk and cotton cloth. Temple restoration projects promote traditional stone carving businesses. Tourists can purchase tapes of Cambodian music. Religious traditions, grounded in Buddhism with Hindu influences, have been resurrected, and spiritual life is active in each village and city.
The capitol city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, became a virtual ghost town during the rule of Pol Pot. All citizens were forced to evacuate this former "jewel of Southeast Asia" to work on the farming collectives in the countryside. During this four year period, buildings were left to crumble, and services were suspended. Even after the fall of Pol Pot, there was much political instability as the current government was in its formative stages. With little money, restoration of Phnom Penh has proceeded slowly. Pictures below, which reveal Phnom Penh today, suggest a hint of former glory.
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