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The Silk Routes of Angkor: Khmer Trade Networks Revealed
Description
When we think of Angkor, we picture temple-mountains and jungle-choked ruins. But the Khmer Empire was also a commercial powerhouse, trading sandalwood, cardamom, and exotic animal products across Southeast Asia and beyond. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the trade networks that sustained Angkor from the 9th to 15th centuries. They discuss the role of Chinese merchants who recorded Khmer exports, the bustling port of Srah Srang, and the overland routes that connected the empire to the Siamese kingdoms and the Malay Peninsula. They also examine less-known trade goods like rhinoceros horn and kingfisher feathers, luxury items prized by Chinese elites. The conversation touches on the decline of these networks as maritime trade shifted, contributing to Angkor's isolation and eventual collapse. Discover how commerce, not just conquest, shaped the rise and fall of one of Asia's greatest empires.