How did they fall from power?
Since Angkor’s population was increasing rapidly, there was an increase in demand for land. This lead to deforestation and deforestation led to soil erosion. This meant that the land became useless and it forced the Angkors to leave these areas.
Angkor’s rapid growth depended on the wet climate to help supply them with food and water but Angkor became much drier and drier due to climate change. The Angkor people were forced to leave Angkor to look for more wetter and fertile land.
Some historians think that the Black Death helped to end the Angkor Empire because traders from China and Europe would have traded with the people of Angkor.
The Angkor Empire surrounded there religious belief around Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. The kings which were referred to as ‘god-kings’ motivated the dedication of their people to serve the throne. The empire’s irrigation and military system required many workers and a lot of manpower to sustain. The introduction of Theravada Buddhism taught the people to approach nirvana ( when the person escapes the effects of karma and the cycle of life and death ) and to abandon worldly things. ‘God-kings’ were gone which resulted in less motivation and dedication from workers.
Angkor’s rapid growth depended on the wet climate to help supply them with food and water but Angkor became much drier and drier. The Angkor people were forced to leave Angkor to look for more wetter and fertile land.