The race which produced the builders of Angkor developed slowly by the fusion of the Mon-Khmer racial groups of Southern Indochina during the first century AD.

Under Indian influence, two principal centers of civilization grew up. The older in the extreme south of the peninsula was called “Funan” (the name is a Chinese transliteration of the ancient Khmer form of the word “Phnom”, which means “hill”), a powerful maritime empire which ruled over all the shores of the Gulf of Siam. In the mid-6th century, the Kambuja, who lived in the middle Mekong (north of present-day Cambodia), broke away from Funan.
Within a short time, this new power known as Chenla absorbed the Funanese Kingdom. In the late 7th century, Chenla broke into two parts: land Chenla (to the north) and water Chenla (to the south along the Gulf of Thailand) dominated by the Chinese. Land Chenla was stable during the 8th century, whereas water Chenla was beset by dynastic rivalries. During this period, Java probably invaded and controlled part of the country.

At the beginning of the ninth century, the kings set up their respective capital in the present province of Siem Reap. For nearly six centuries, the kings enriched it by building temples one after another and each being more sumptuous than the other. Two hundred of these temples are spread all over in the Angkorian area some 400 square kilometers in the Siem Reap Province. The temples and their sanctuaries are best known for their architecture and sculptures.

The first founder of Angkor was King Jayayarman II (802-850), who built one of his residences on the plateau of the Kulen in 802. King Indravarman I (887-889), a nephew of King Jayavarman II, constructed a vast irrigation system at Lolei and then built the tower of Preah Ko in 879 and Bakong in 881. King Yasovarman (889-900), the son of King Indravarman I, dedicated the towers of Lolei to his memory in 893 and founded a new capital to the northwest which was to remain the very heart of Angkor. During that period, he also erected the Eastern Baray, an artificial lake, 2km by 7km.

King Harshavarman I (reigning 900-923) the son of King Yasovarman, who took to the foot of Phnom Bakheng, consecrated the little temple of Baksei Chamkrong, and built Prasat Kravan in 921. King Harshavarman I’s uncle, King Jayavarman IV, reigning in the northeastern Cambodia near the present town of Koh Ker during the period of 928-941, erected several majestic monuments. He erected several majestic monuments. King Rajendravarman (reigning 944- 968) returned to Angkor in 952 and built the Eastern Mebon and Prè Roup temples in 961. In 967, the Brahman Yajnavaraha, a high religious dignitary of the royal blood, erected the temple of Banteay Srei, about 20 km northeast of the capital. King Jayavarman V (reigning 968-1001) founded a new capital around Takeo Temple.

In the eleventh century, King Suryavarman I (reigning 1002-1050) seized Angkor and founded a glorious dynasty. It was at this time that the Gopura of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was completed with the sober pyramid of the Phimeanakas at its center. He also erected the temple of Phnom Chiso, some parts of Preah Vihear, and Preah Khan in Kampong Svay District.

King Suryavarman I’s son, King Udayadityavarman II (reigning 1050-1066), built the temple mountain of Baphuon and the Western Baray. King Udayadityavarman’s brother, King Harshavarman III, succeeded him during the period of 1066-1080. However, violent strife soon led to the fall of the dynasty. King Jayavarman VI (reigning 1080-1113) continued to build Preah Vihear Mount in Vat Po and Phimai.

King Suryavarman II (reigning 1113-1150) extended his power from the coast of the China Sea to the Indian Ocean and built the temples such as Angkor Wat, Thommanon, Chao Say Devoda, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu, and Banteay Samrè. After these dazzling achievements, Khmer civilization appears to have begun to decline accompanied by internal strife and an attack by the Chams.

King Jayavarman VII (reigning 1181-1220) was the most fascinating personality in Khmer history. He re-established his rule over all of southern Indochina and is best known for his huge building program. He built Ta Prohm (1186) and Preah Khan (1191) to dedicate to his parents. Then he erected Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, Neak Pean, Ta Saom, Ta Nei, and a few monuments in other parts of the country. It was he who founded his great capital, Angkor Thom and in the center of which, he built the Bayon temple with its two hundred stone faces.

It is understandable that the country was exhausted after these enormous efforts. The decline of the Angkor era began after the death of King Jayavarman VII in the early thirteenth century. Due to Siamese invasion and the limitations of the irrigation system, Khmer power declined so drastically that the king was finally obliged to move to the vicinity of Phnom Penh in 1431. Then, resulting from a series of Siamese and Cham invasions, the country was placed as a French protectorate in 1863.
After regaining Independence in 1953, the country resumed several names:

1. The Kingdom of Cambodia
(Under the Reachia Niyum Regime from 1953 to 1970);
2. The Khmer Republic
(Under the Lon Nol Regime from 1970 to 1975);
3. Democratic Kampuchea
(Under the Pol Pot Genocidal Regime from 1975 to 1979);
4. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979-
1989);
5. The State of Cambodia (1989-1993);
6. The Kingdom of Cambodia (1993 until now).