Once one of the most powerful countries in the world, to now one of the poorest.
The beginning of the power era, of the Khmer Empire is dated to 802 CE when King Jayavarman II went to Phnom Kulen to declared himself "king of the world". The empire ended, with the fall of Angkor in the 15th century. and from that time till present day, the kingdom has been
under constant hardship.
The once powerful country shrunk colossally in size, In 1867 the France protectorates began, and Cambodia were a part of what many might remember as French Indochina, Then ruled the country, then during world war II, Japan occupied the country, It lasted from 1941 till 1945. In 1953 Cambodia again were declared an independent Country, But had a turbulent period with a lot of foreign interference, till it in 1968 unwillingly got involved in the Vietnam war, due to a massive bombing of the country, by the americans, to defeat the vietcong. The bombing lasted 7 years and the official, american, number of carpet bombings is over 230.516 raids, It's claimed that this is one of the main reasons to the success of the Red Khmer and Pol Pot. The darkest period in the country's history. with a massive genocide of almost 1/3 of the Cambodian people.
Pol Pot took the power in 1975, "ruling" a people on the brink to starvation, hating everything western, he tried to rebuild the agriculture, by ordering everyone to the rice fields, while killing doctors, teachers, everyone educated, even people with glasses as the were seens as a symbol of intellectualism. Somehow he keeps this hidden for the west, cause no one did anything for year. Not till 1979 when Vietnam got involved in border disputes, and realised what really were going on in the country. January 8, 1979 The people's republic of cambodia were formed. a country lest in poverty, and with huge fraction af Khmer rouge still operating around the country. Not till the peace agreement in Paris in 1993, peace at last seemed to concur. Leading to general elections and reinstating the Kingdom in 1993.
In the start of 21 century, at last Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesien, USA and Great Britain, started helping rebuild the country, despite their doubt on the government.
One thing is certain, when visiting Cambodia you will be surprised, cause no where in the world have i met a nicer and more friendly people, who seems happy despite everything that happened to them.
