Lesson Plan: Civilizations and Climate Vulnerability: The Khmer Empire

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.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion

1. Use the reading “Khmer Empire” from the Ancient History Encyclopedia to provide an introduction to the Khmer Empire.
2. Use the map to observe the geographical location and boundaries of the empire and discuss its modern-day equivalent location.
3. Proceed to a discussion on the main rulers of the kingdom and their contribution.
4. 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.

Go to the Reading

Step 2: Detailed discussion on the topic

1. Use the reading “The Khmer state (Angkor)” from the Encyclopaedia Britannica for a more detailed discussion on Angkor and the Khmer Empire.
2. Begin the discussion with the Foundation of the kingdom and the perceived role and importance of the rulers.
3. 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).
4. Read about and discuss the gradual decline of Angkor and the various reasons that could be attributed to this downfall.

Go to the Reading

 

Step 3 : Further exploration using a hands-on activity (Go to the Activity)

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: https://www.virtualangkor.com/water.

1. Read the introductory paragraph.
2. Ask students to play the video and to explore the 360 degree views to learn about the role of water in the Khmer people’s lives.
3. Facilitate a discussion on Questions 1., 2., and 3. of this module.

Next, navigate to Theme Two (The Hydraulic City) of this module: https://www.virtualangkor.com/water-t2.

1. Read the introductory paragraph.
2. Ask students to play the video and to explore the 360 degree views to visualize the rice fields and irrigation system in Angkor.
3. Ask students to study the map.
4. Facilitate a discussion on Questions 1. and 4. to learn about the water and water features in Angkor, and the significance of water in the Khmer empire.

Then, navigate to Theme Three (Climate Vulnerability) of this module: https://www.virtualangkor.com/water-t3.

1. Read the introductory paragraph.
2. Navigate to the article “Climate as a contributing factor in the demise of Angkor, Cambodia” listed in this module (https://www.pnas.org/content/107/15/6748). Encourage students to read the section, “Climate and Societal Vulnerability at Angkor”.
3. Facilitate a discussion on the water management system in Angkor, the barays, and the modifications to the water management infrastructure. Discuss the role of climate-related extreme events (droughts and floods) in the downfall of the Khmer empire.

 

Propose the following questions/activities:

1. Describe the reign of Suryavarman II in the Khmer empire. What were his key accomplishments?
2. Discuss the role of water and water management systems in the life of the Khmer people.
3. What were the possible reasons for the decline and eventual collapse of the Khmer empire?
4. Discuss the climate-related extreme events that may have played a significant role in the demise of the Khmer empire.

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. Give an account of the establishment, growth, and decline of Angkor and the Khmer empire.
2. Describe the monuments and structures built during the reign of various Khmer rulers.
3. Discuss the significance of water and water management systems in the Khmer empire.
4. Discuss the possible reasons for the downfall of the Khmer empire.
5. Explain how climate-related extreme events may have contributed to the decline of the Khmer empire.

If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.

1	Classroom/ Laboratory Activities	Educational modules from Virtual Angkor to learn about Angkor and the Khmer empire in an interactive and engaging manner. Go to the Resource
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. Go to the Resources
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. Go to the Resource

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
4	Additional Resources	Classroom/Laboratory Activities from Virtual Angkor; Reading and Photographs from ancient water technologies; Teaching Module from EDSITEment!
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,