A History of Cambodia (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798273951426)

From the sublime genius of the Angkorian Empire, which created the world's largest religious monument at Angkor Wat, to the horrific abyss of the Khmer Rouge's "Year Zero," this history traces the staggering contradictions of a single nation. It begins in deep prehistory, charting the rise of Southeast Asia's first great Indianized states, Funan and Chenla. The narrative then delves into the golden age of the Khmer Empire, exploring the reigns of the great god-kings who marshaled immense spiritual and physical resources to construct the architectural wonders of Angkor, a civilization that dominated the region for centuries and left an indelible cultural legacy.

Following the empire's gradual decline, the book chronicles Cambodia's "Middle Period," a long and painful struggle for survival as the kingdom was squeezed between the ambitions of its powerful neighbors, Siam and Vietnam. The arrival of the West brings a new dynamic, ushering in ninety years of the French Protectorate, a period that preserved Cambodia's existence but stripped it of its sovereignty. This era sets the stage for the tumultuous 20th century, exploring the first stirrings of modern nationalism, the charismatic King Norodom Sihanouk's "Royal Crusade" for independence, and his perilous attempt to keep the kingdom neutral amidst the escalating Vietnam War.

The narrative unflinchingly documents Cambodia's tragic descent into one of modern history's most brutal conflicts. It details the 1970 coup that plunged the nation into a devastating civil war, the secret and catastrophic American bombing campaign, and the inexorable rise of the Khmer Rouge. The book provides a comprehensive and harrowing account of life and death under Pol Pot's fanatical regime, from the forced evacuation of the cities to the unimaginable horrors of the Killing Fields, a period that resulted in the deaths of nearly a quarter of the population and left the nation's social and cultural fabric in ruins.

The final section charts Cambodia's long and arduous path out of the darkness. It covers the Vietnamese invasion that toppled the Khmer Rouge, the subsequent decade of occupation and civil war, and the massive United Nations peacekeeping mission that aimed to rebuild a shattered state. The story is brought into the 21st century, detailing the restoration of the monarchy, the turbulent politics of the new kingdom under a single dominant party, and the nation's remarkable economic and cultural revival. It concludes by examining the profound challenges and opportunities Cambodia faces today as a new generation grapples with the enduring legacy of its glorious and tragic past.