The Khmer Empire

The Khmer Empire was a great kingdom in Southeast Asia. It began about 1,200 years ago in what is now Cambodia. The Khmer people built huge temples and cities. Their most famous building is Angkor Wat. It is one of the biggest temples ever made.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a giant temple built almost 900 years ago. It has tall stone towers shaped like lotus flowers. The walls are covered with beautiful carvings of gods and stories. Angkor Wat sits inside a huge square moat filled with water. It is the largest religious building in the world.

A Powerful Kingdom

At its biggest, the Khmer Empire covered much of Southeast Asia. The Khmer built smart water systems to grow lots of rice. The city of Angkor was home to nearly a million people. That made it one of the largest cities in the world at the time. The empire lasted for about 600 years before it slowly ended.

Fun Facts

• Angkor Wat is on the flag of Cambodia.
• The city of Angkor had more people than London did at the same time.
• Khmer is still the main language spoken in Cambodia today.

Did You Know?

Angkor Wat was hidden by jungle for hundreds of years before it became famous around the world again.