Cambodia is one of the Southeast Asian countries that have the oldest civilization. Although Cambodia was united as early Khmer kingdom in the 1st century, people who speak Khmer-Mon language have lived in this territory since about 600.000 BC.

From the 1st century until now, Cambodia experienced various eras in its own history such as: Funam, Chenla, Angkor, post-Angkor, era of under French protectorate, Independent era. Those eras were divided due to the transformations of Khmer social history. In its past, Khmer experienced the bright splendor and depression repeatedly. Sometime Khmer became the most powerful empire in Southeast Asia, while sometime Khmer lived under supervision of foreigners, and sometime Khmer met the great tragedy.

As a meter of fact, the first kingdom of Khmer was known as “Funan or Nagara Vnum” which lived from 1st to 6th century. During this period of time, Khmer importantly received Indian culture two times. Once the kingdom spreaded its own superiority over the most part of continental Southeast Asian that is now central and southern of Laos, Cochincin (South Vietnam), Cambodia, Thailand and some part of Malaysia and Burma.

As the Kingdom of Funan collapsed, it was replaced by the new era of Chenla, which dominated a period of time from the late 6th century to 8th century.

When the Funan failed down, the kingdom broke up and divided in many small realms. Immediately, the kings of Chenla (they were relatives of King Ruddravarman of Funan) started to reunite the Kingdom. However, the effort got accomplishment in the reign of King Isanavarman I (AD 616 – 635). Unfortunately, in the early 8th century, the central power of the kingdom was weaken and divided into two smaller Kingdom—the Upper Chenla and Lower Chenla.

And the Lower itself was splitted into no less than five realms. Because of the weakness, the Lower was aggressed and captured easily by pirates of Jva who had probably sailed from the Sailendra Empire of Java.

So, since then Chenla became a vassal of Jva until Jayavarman II liberated the country and reunited the kingdom of Khmer. Jayavarman II possibly started to reunite his motherland in the late 8th century. He declared himself as “God King” and his motherland freedom by celebrating ceremony of “Devaraja” and “Cutting Head of Jva King” in AD 802. Moreover, he started a new flourishing era of Khmer Empire, Angkor, which lasted over 5 centuries (from 9th to 14th).

During this Golden Age, Khmer established a marvelous civilization in Southeast Asia.

In this period of centuries, Angkor became a great empire dominated the vast territory: on the north bordered by Southern China, on the east bordered by Cham (Central Vietnam), on the south bordered by South China Sea, and on the west bordered by Burma. Furthermore, it was an important centre of trade in the region. And thousands of temples were built in the entire empire, especially in the City of Angkor.

Consequently, this affluent era always makes Khmers of the post Angkor always so proud of their own ancestors.

Regretfully, Angkor had collapsed in the early 15th century when the king Ponea Yat moved the capital from Angkor to Chatomouk (new Phnom Penh) in AD 1431/2. This date is the start of Post-Angkor era until 1863 when Khmer failed under French protectorate. During this regime, Khmer became a modest country, which was invaded by its powerful neighbors: Siem (Thai) and Yuon (Vietnam).

Because of war, Khmer kingdom had to move its capitals several time; its population was numerously decreased; its territory got gradually smaller and smaller and sometime disappeared from the world map. For most of the time, Khmer was captured as a vassal of the above two kingdoms.

In the AD 1863, Cambodia failed to be a French protectorate. French released Khmer from its neighbor. French brought Western Civilization to Cambodia.

French reconstructed history of Cambodia. And most of Khmer temples, especially the temples of Angkor, got protection from destruction. But standard of living of Cambodian population is nearly the same, while some parts of the country got slowly development. As well as the some parts of the world, Khmer started their nationalist activities against French administration in 1930s. Finally, because of consequence of World War II and the Nationalism of Cambodia, this pity country gained its own independent in AD 1953.

After immediately getting freedom, Cambodia as one of Indochina area geographically became a focused zone of Cold War. At the first stage, Cambodia gained benefits for its amazing development. But since Lon Nol successfully set coup d’état against Prince Norodom Sihanouk in AD 1870, Cambodia became a hot battle between Communism and Liberalism.

On 17th April 1975, the Communists defeated Lon Nol government, and established Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rough), leaded by Pol Pot.

Under their administration, over 3 millions Cambodian citizens had died because of starvation, deceases, murdered, torture, and genocide. However, nobody knows why this government killed its own citizens brutally like that. Visitors can see all of the evidences of how they torture and killed the victims such as: the victims’ skeletons, photos, present or cell, killing field, especially the survivors, who can tell their lives during Pol Pot regime.

On 7 January 1979, Vietnamese army overthrew Pol Pot from power and set up “People’s Republic of Kampuchea” with Heng Samrin as Head of State.

However, the civil continued for nearly two more decades. In 1989 before the End of Cold War, Vietnamese troops withdrew from Cambodia completely. On 23 October 1991, the Phnom Penh Government and gorilla government signed a peace treaty in Paris. As a result, Cambodia initiated its first fair free election that prepared by United Nations. Cambodia became “Royal Government of Cambodia” again and it is not a member of Communism any more. Although most part of the country was free and safe, some areas were dominated by Khmer Rough until 1998, when Pol Pot had died and all Khmer cadres repatriated with government and live peacefully among Cambodian people.

Although currently being one of the poorest countries of the world, Cambodia is trying very hard to stand up and adapt with this globalization world peacefully and potentially. The country is developed rapidly in all sectors: international relation, economy, education, tourism, and especially urbanization…, etc. As a meter of fact, Cambodia is a considered tour attraction in Southeast Asia. And it is slowly but surely stepping toward real freedom, democracy, and development.