The Southeast Asian country of Cambodia is a land of great natural beauty. For much of its history, the country has served as a battleground between various countries and political groups. At the beginning of the 21st century it was attempting to rebuild after decades of civil war. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. GeographyCambodia is located on the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. The country of Laos lies to the northeast of Cambodia. Thailand borders Cambodia in the northwest and west. Vietnam lies to the east. To the southwest is the Sea of Thailand. Cambodia covers an area of 69,898 square miles (181,035 square kilometers). - A traditional rural settlement on the bank of the Tonle Sap, Cambodia.
The heartland of Cambodia is a low-lying plain. The plain surrounds the country's two major bodies of fresh water. The Mekong River runs through the eastern part of Cambodia. The Tonle Sap (Great Lake) lies in the west. The lake serves as a natural reservoir for the Mekong River. Beyond the low-lying plain there are highlands and mountains. The Dangrek Mountain range lies along the border with neighboring Thailand. The eastern part of Cambodia is a highland area made up of low-lying mountains covered with dense forests. Most of the southwestern part of the country is covered by the Krâvanh and the Dâmrei mountain ranges. Mount Aôral, the tallest peak in Cambodia, is located in this region. It stands at 5,948 feet (1,813 meters) above sea level. The southern coastal region is a heavily wooded lowland. Plants and animalsTwo thirds of Cambodia is covered with dense forests. The mountains in the north contain forests of tall trees as well as an undergrowth of bamboo, vines, and palms. The southwestern highlands contain pine forests in the higher regions and rain forests along the seaward slopes. Cambodia's central lowlands are covered with rice paddies, fields of corn or tobacco, and grasslands. Cambodia's northeastern forests contain elephants, wild oxen, and rhinoceroses. Tigers and leopards are also found in the forests. Some of the birds native to Cambodia include herons, pheasant, pelicans, and cormorants. The country also has crocodiles and cobras. People and cultureThe Khmer are the largest ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for about 90 percent of the population. Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cham also live in Cambodia. Approximately 95 percent of the Cambodian population practices Buddhism. For centuries, Buddhism has been one of the dominant cultural forces in Cambodia. Many rural people also follow ancient folk religions. Cambodia is an agricultural country. Nearly 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas. The only major city in Cambodia is the capital of Phnom Penh. In general, the Khmer live in the rural areas and farm. Most of the Chinese live and work in the cities. Modern Cambodian culture draws heavily on the achievements of the Khmer empire. The Khmer arrived in Southeast Asia in about 2000 BC. They eventually formed an empire that was at its peak from the 9th through the 13th century AD. During that period, the Khmer developed styles of music and dance that are still popular. The Khmer empire also constructed beautiful buildings. The most spectacular of these were the temples of Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century. EconomyAgriculture dominates the Cambodian economy. More than 70 percent of the population is engaged in farming. The main crop is rice, which is grown in paddies throughout the central lowlands. Other crops include bananas, sugarcane, and roots and tubers. Along with rice growing, fishing plays an important part in the rural economy. Many Cambodians depend on rice and fish to provide food for their families. Livestock herding is also an important part of the economy. Cattle, pigs, buffalo, chickens, and ducks are among the animals kept in Cambodia. Cambodia has only limited manufacturing, construction, and mining. The main manufactured goods include glass and glassware, cigarettes, clothing, and rubber products. HistoryEarly historyChinese records tell of a kingdom named Funan that existed until the 6th century AD in what is now southeastern Cambodia. It was the first of Cambodia's remarkable ancient kingdoms. The most famous of those kingdoms was the powerful Khmer empire, which was founded in about 800 AD. During the height of its power the Khmer empire ruled much of Southeast Asia. From the 14th through the 15th centuries, however, the country was invaded by the neighboring countries of Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Cambodia lost much of its territory. In the 19th century, Thailand and Vietnam further divided the country. French influenceDuring the second half of the 19th century, the region of Indochina came under increasing control of the French empire. In 1887 the French merged Cambodia with Vietnam and Laos. The entire region was renamed French Indochina. During World War II, French Indochina was occupied by Japan. Following the defeat of Japan, control of the region returned to France. In 1953 France granted Cambodia its independence. A pro-French government was established under Norodom Sihanouk. Civil warDuring the 1960s and 1970s, ongoing warfare between the United States and Vietnam spilled over into Cambodia. Within Cambodia, various political groups struggled for power. A number of rival Communist forces gained increasing influence in the country. In 1970 an anti-Communist general named Lon Nol removed Sihanouk from power. The new government under Lon Nol changed the country's name to the Khmer Republic. Cambodia plunged into civil war during the 1970s. Khmer RougeIn 1975 a group of Communist rebels seized control of the country. The group was known as the Khmer Rouge. They were led by a man named Pol Pot. From 1975 until 1979, the Khmer Rouge created chaos by changing the country's economic structure. Pol Pot's followers killed anyone who opposed the new government's policies. At least 1 million Cambodians died in what came to be known as the “Killing Fields.” In 1978 Communist forces backed by Vietnam invaded Cambodia and toppled the Khmer Rouge government. The Vietnamese forces installed a new, pro-Vietnamese government. The new government also changed the name of the country. From 1979 until 1989 the country was called Kampuchea. Fighting continued between the Vietnamese-backed government and Khmer Rouge rebels for more than a decade. End of the civil warAlthough Vietnam pulled most of its troops out of Cambodia in 1989, political quarrels within the country continued through much of the 1990s. During that period, the country was ruled by a series of weak governments. In 1997 a military leader named Hun Sen seized control of the Cambodian government. Following the takeover, most of the Khmer rebels agreed to support the new government in exchange for political pardons. The Khmer forces also agreed to turn Pol Pot over to the government as a war criminal. Pol Pot died before he could be brought to trial. After the death of Pol Pot, Cambodia attempted to heal the wounds of more than three decades of fighting. Although the civil war was over, Cambodian society remained unstable. Population (2001 estimate), 12,720,000. |