Kingdom of Cambodia

History of Cambodia

1. Funan Empire: 68-550
2. Chenla: 550-802
3. Khmer Empire: 802-1431
4. Dark Ages: 1618-1863
5. French Colonial Period: 1863-1952
6. First Administration of Sihanouk: 1955-1970
7. The Khmer Republic and The War: 1970-1975
8. Democratic Kampuchea (The Khmer Rouge / Red Khmer Age): 1975-1979
9. People's Republic of Kampuchea / State of Cambodia: 1979-1993
10. Modern Cambodia: 1993-Present

The Kingdom of Cambodia, (ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា), also known as Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia that borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake.

Angkor Wat Temple

The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with King Norodom Sihamoni as head of state, who has reigned since 2004. Phnom Penh is the kingdom's capital and largest city, and is the center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. Siem Reap is the gateway to the Angkor region in which the famous temple of Angkor Wat and other Angkorian temples are located which makes it a main destination for tourism. Battambang, the largest province in northwestern Cambodia is known for its rice production, and Sihanoukville, a coastal city, is the primary sea port and beach resort.

Cambodia has an areas of 181 035 square kilometers and a population of over 14 million people. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer" which strictly refers to ethnic Khmers. Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Cambodia, which is practiced by around 96% of the Cambodian population

Rice Cropping in Cambodia

Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Other important sectors include garments, construction and tourism - foreign visitors to Angkor Wat numbered more than 4 million in 2007. In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2011, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.

Source: wikipedia.com