Cambodia "Asia's Uncharted Gem"

History of Cambodia
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History of Cambodia

Civilisation in Cambodia is thought to have begun in the 1st Century BC and for more than 2000 years absorbed influences from China and India. The Khmer Empire flourished in the area between the 9th and 13th century and many of the breathtaking temples still in existence today were built during this period. For the next two centuries a series of battles with neighbouring enemies, Thailand and Vietnam resulted in substantial ecological failure and loss of territory forcing King Norodom to appeal to France for help in 1863. Cambodia continued as a protectorate of France until 1953 when it gained independence and became a constitutional monarchy under the rule of King Norodom Sihanouk. However, a conflict of interest in the political upheaval of the Cold War ousted Sihanouk when a military coup led by Prime Minister Lon Nol and Prince Sirik Matak prompted civil War. Sihanouk who had previously wanted Cambodia to remain neutral realigned himself with communist rebels Khmer Rouge and the Viet Cong who between them gradually began to regain territory from their pro-United States counterparts leading to the intervention of US air raids. For four years between 1969 and 1973 the country was engaged in savage battles. The Khmer Rouge emerged victorious and in 1975 the regime led by Pol Pot took control of power. They set about rebuilding the country in the face of famine and destroyed anything and everything related to the US and the West. The regime also set it sights on targeting ethnic minorities and professionals noted for their intelligence in what was to become a notorious genocide mission. It is estimated that around three million people died from malnutrition, execution, and disease, a figure which gave rise to the term killing fields. In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in an attempt to quell the devastation reaped on innocent civilians and violent conflicts was commonplace throughout the 1980's until a Peace Treaty was signed in France in 1991 after two years of furious political negotiation. Today Cambodia has moved away from its war torn history and is fast growing in economical strength and is laying the foundations on which to build and restore an operative infrastructure.