The civilization of Angkor
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The civilization of Angkor
University of California Press, c2001
- : pbk
Available at 1 libraries
Note
"ISBN: 0520234421"--T.p. verso
Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-179) and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
In the late sixteenth century a mythical encounter was reported during an elephant hunt in the dense north of the Tonle Sap, or Great Lake of central Cambodia. King Satha of Cambodia and his retainers were beating a path through the undergrowth when they were halted by stone giants and a massive wall. The King, the fable reported, ordered six thousand men to clear away the forest overgrowth around the wall, thereby exposing the city of Angkor - 'lost' for over a century. Subsequent reports from Portuguese missionaries described its five gateways, with bridges flanked by stone figures leading across a moat. There were idols covered in gold, inscriptions, fountains, canals, and a 'temple with five towers, called Angor.' For four centuries, this huge complex has inspired awe among visitors from all over the world, but only now are its origins and history becoming clear. This book begins with the development of the prehistoric communities of the area and draws on the author's recent excavations to portray the rich and expansive chiefdoms that existed at the dawn of civilization.
It covers the origins of early states, up to the establishment, zenith, and decline of this extraordinary civilization, whose most impressive achievement was the construction of the gilded temple mausoleum of Angkor Wat in the twelfth century, allegedly by 70,000 people. Drawing on the latest research on prehistoric archaeology, epigraphy, and art history, Charles Higham has written a clear and concise history of this remarkable civilization.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Timeline 1. Introduction: 'One of the Marvels of the World' 2. The Prehistoric Period in South-East Asia: 2300 BC-AD 400 3. The Earliest Civilization in South-East Asia: AD 150-550 4. The Early Kingdoms of Chenla: AD 550-800 5. The Dynasty of Jayavarman II: AD 800-1000 6. The Dynasty of the Sun Kings: AD 1000-1080 7. The Dynasty of Mahidharapura: AD 1080- 8. The Civilization of Angkor Glossary References for Further Reading Index
by "Nielsen BookData"