Khmer Empire

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/khmer-empire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the imperial capital?Angkor, a vast urban complex with numerous temples and infrastructure
2. What is the peak period of construction?Roughly 11th to 13th centuries CE, during which major temples were built
3. What was the Khmer Empire and when did it exist?The Khmer Empire was a powerful kingdom in Southeast Asia that lasted from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
4. Who started the Khmer Empire?Jayavarman II became king in 802 CE and called himself a god-king, uniting many small regions.

Devaraja Cult: A religious and political concept that elevated the ruler to a divine status, legitimizing their authority.
Bas-Reliefs: Carvings or sculptures that project slightly from a flat background, common on Khmer temple walls.
Hydraulic System: An engineered network of canals, reservoirs, and dikes designed for water management and irrigation.