The Origins of the Civilization of Angkor

A groundbreaking synthesis of two decades of research reveals that the civilization of Angkor emerged through a complex interplay of environmental adaptation, technological innovation, and cultural evolution. Charles Higham's work challenges long-held assumptions about the region's development, uncovering new evidence for the adoption of rice farming, copper-based metallurgy, and iron-age advancements as foundational elements in state formation. Archaeogenetic data further illuminates the genetic underpinnings of this transition. This interdisciplinary approach integrates environmental history with archaeological and genetic findings to reconstruct Angkor's rise over two millennia.

(Ed.). (2013). The Origins of the Civilization of Angkor. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472555823