As a High School or Undergraduate teacher of History or Social Sciences, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about civilizations, decline of civilizations or empires, and societal vulnerability to climate-related extreme events.
This lesson plan will help students to learn about Angkor and the Khmer empire—its history, the geographical boundaries, various rulers, the architecture and structures built during the period, culture (including religion and festivities), and possible reasons for the decline and demise of the empire, including climate-related extreme events. The activities will also help students to use 360 degree visualizations while learning about the significance of water and water systems in the life of the Khmer people.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in History or Social Sciences.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
| Grade Level | High school, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Social Sciences, Humanities |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Anthropology, History, Heritage Studies, Water Security, Disasters and Hazards, Civilizations, Angkor, Khmer Civilization, Khmer Empire, Urban Design, Water Systems, Water Management Systems,Demise of Civilizations, Decline of Civilizations |
| Climate Topic | Climate and Society, Climate and the Anthroposphere, Climate and the Hydrosphere, Disasters and Hazards, Climate Vulnerability |
| Location | Asia, Cambodia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 75 min |
| Share |
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| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading(~10 min)
Use the reading “Khmer Empire” from the Ancient History Encyclopedia to provide an introduction to the Khmer Empire. Use the map to observe the geographical location and boundaries of the empire and discuss its modern-day equivalent location. Proceed to a discussion on the main rulers of the kingdom and their contribution. Provide an overview of the cultural and religious aspects, and conclude with information about the time period and events that led to the decline of the Khmer Empire
Reading(~20 min)
Use the reading “The Khmer state (Angkor)” from the Encyclopaedia Britannica for a more detailed discussion on Angkor and the Khmer Empire. Begin the discussion with the Foundation of the kingdom and the perceived role and importance of the rulers. Read about the Angkorean civilization; further, discuss the reigns of various rulers (including Jayavarman VII), the cities that were chosen as capitals over the years, and the magnificent monuments and structures built in the kingdom (including the Angkor Wat temple complex). Read about and discuss the gradual decline of Angkor and the various reasons that could be attributed to this downfall.
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity(45 min)
Use the teaching module “Water & Climate” from Virtual Angkor to help your students explore the history of Angkor and the Khmer Empire in a hands-on, interactive manner and to learn about how climate-related factors may have played a crucial role in the decline of this empire.
First, navigate to Theme One (Living with Water) of this module
Next, navigate to Theme Two (The Hydraulic City) of this module
Then, navigate to Theme Three (Climate Vulnerability) of this module
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Classroom/ Laboratory Activities | Educational modules from Virtual Angkor to learn about Angkor and the Khmer empire in an interactive and engaging manner. This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading and Photographs | A reading and photographs on Water Technologies of the Khmer Civilization: Angkor from the website “ancient and water technologies” by Larry W. Mays for detailed exploration of the water management system in Angkor, including barays, moats, and canals. This can be accessed here. |
| 3 | Teaching Module | A detailed teaching module on Angkor Wat titled “Angkor What? Angkor Wat!”, authored by Jennifer Foley and available on the EDSITEment! Website. This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Reading; “Khmer Empire” | from the Ancient History Encyclopedia |
| 2 | Reading; “The Khmer state (Angkor)” | from the Encylopaedia Britannica |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity; “Water & Climate” | from Virtual Angkor; PNAS |
| 4 | Additional Resources | Classroom/Laboratory Activities from Virtual Angkor; Reading and Photographs from ancient water technologies; Teaching Module from EDSITEment! |
| Grade Level | High school, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Social Sciences, History, Humanities |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Civilizations, Angkor, Khmer Civilization Khmer Empire, Urban Design, Water Systems Water Management Systems Demise of Civilizations, Decline of Civilizations |
| Climate Topic | Disasters and Hazards, Climate Vulnerability |
| Location | Cambodia, Asia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 75 min |
| Share |
|
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading(~10 min)
Use the reading “Khmer Empire” from the Ancient History Encyclopedia to provide an introduction to the Khmer Empire. Use the map to observe the geographical location and boundaries of the empire and discuss its modern-day equivalent location. Proceed to a discussion on the main rulers of the kingdom and their contribution. Provide an overview of the cultural and religious aspects, and conclude with information about the time period and events that led to the decline of the Khmer Empire
Reading(~20 min)
Use the reading “The Khmer state (Angkor)” from the Encyclopaedia Britannica for a more detailed discussion on Angkor and the Khmer Empire. Begin the discussion with the Foundation of the kingdom and the perceived role and importance of the rulers. Read about the Angkorean civilization; further, discuss the reigns of various rulers (including Jayavarman VII), the cities that were chosen as capitals over the years, and the magnificent monuments and structures built in the kingdom (including the Angkor Wat temple complex). Read about and discuss the gradual decline of Angkor and the various reasons that could be attributed to this downfall.
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity(45 min)
Use the teaching module “Water & Climate” from Virtual Angkor to help your students explore the history of Angkor and the Khmer Empire in a hands-on, interactive manner and to learn about how climate-related factors may have played a crucial role in the decline of this empire.
First, navigate to Theme One (Living with Water) of this module
Next, navigate to Theme Two (The Hydraulic City) of this module
Then, navigate to Theme Three (Climate Vulnerability) of this module
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Classroom/ Laboratory Activities | Educational modules from Virtual Angkor to learn about Angkor and the Khmer empire in an interactive and engaging manner. This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading and Photographs | A reading and photographs on Water Technologies of the Khmer Civilization: Angkor from the website “ancient and water technologies” by Larry W. Mays for detailed exploration of the water management system in Angkor, including barays, moats, and canals. This can be accessed here. |
| 3 | Teaching Module | A detailed teaching module on Angkor Wat titled “Angkor What? Angkor Wat!”, authored by Jennifer Foley and available on the EDSITEment! Website. |
| 1 | Reading; “Khmer Empire” | from the Ancient History Encyclopedia |
| 2 | Reading; “The Khmer state (Angkor)” | from the Encylopaedia Britannica |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity; “Water & Climate” | Reading “Climate as a contributing factor in the demise of Angkor, Cambodia” – By PNAS |
| 4 | Additional Resources | By G. K. Rohela, P. Shukla, Multana, R. Kumar, and S. R. Chowdhury, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute. Government of India, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| 5 | Image(s) | Khmer Empire: : Original image by Javierfv1212. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, Angkor Wat Temple:Original image by Dennis Jarvis. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, |
