Doing the 197

Angkor and the Khmer Civilization by Michael D. Coe and Damian Evans (2003, 2018 new edition) Read 19 May 2026 - 9 June 2026 It seemed rather too soon to take on another book that dealt with the subject of genocide after recently reading about Rwanda, so I was quite surprised in finding a title (mostly) about Cambodia focusing on the Khmer Empire (802-1431). As it turns out, it’s essentially impossible to write anything about Cambodia which doesn’t mention Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge to a certain extent, as research within the country was disrupted by military conflict just as archaeological practices were evolving rapidly in the late twentieth century. More recent advancements in airborne laser scanning mean that understandings of the Khmer past are gradually catching up with those of neighbouring Thailand. As a result, we have this general history which attempts to address what is known about the Khmer Empire and its large-scale capital city, Angkor, not just during the ‘Classic’ ...