Trade and social unease

Lieberman, 2011 argues that changes in trade and socio-political unease were central to the collapse of the Khmer empire. These factors also contributed to the collapse of centres of other civilizations in Asia.

A shift from terrestrial to maritime trade undermined the centre of the Khmer Empire, Angkor, and enabled once peripheral cities of the empire to become new centres of power, based on proximity to maritime trade. Key shipping routes bypassed Angkor and led to economic instability and eventual collapse. These arguments have more recently been developed by Evans et al, 2013.

As a result of shifts in trade and subsequent political disorder and fragmentation, Angkor placed greater pressure on its people. Angkor exhausted its people by focussing a lot of energy on constructing grand architectural structures, most significantly Angkor Wat. With growing social unease and simultaneous expansion of Buddhism, many civilians converted to Buddhism, which worked to undermine the ideological system that had once allowed the growth of Angkor.

Evans et al takes it further and argues that the centre of power was shifted from Angkor to coastal areas that would benefit from the new maritime trade. This, on top of social unease and dramatic religious change, led to mass outward migration and Angkor's collapse.

Source: Cartoon stock

In Lieberman’s opinion, this social unrest was made worse by ecological deterioration and declining agricultural output as a result of drought. Labour and land productivity fell which made the heart of the Khmer empire particularly vulnerable to the military attack that occurred in 1432. Following this attack universal conscription across the city was implemented. This drew attention away from other pursuits, such as stabilizing trade and agricultural output.

Evans et al argues that the urban intensification that had occurred during the zenith of the Khmer empire made the situation worse.

Till next time!