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Angkor's Lost Canals: The Water Crisis That Crippled an Empire
Season 3
Episode 146
Published 1 month ago
Description
Episode 146 dives deep into the hydraulic infrastructure that sustained the Khmer Empire — and how its failure may have been the final blow. Lucas and Luna explore the intricate canal network around Angkor, from the Siem Reap River diversions to the massive barays. They discuss the Greater Angkor Project's lidar findings, the 14th-century siltation crisis, and the engineering challenges that ultimately made the city untenable. New archaeological evidence suggests that climate change and deforestation accelerated the collapse of the water system, forcing the court's move to Phnom Penh. This episode ties together hydrology, climate history, and political decision-making in a way that's never been covered before.