00:00 Angkor was once a thriving city and capital of a great empire, but now it is just a collection of ruins and temples that attracts millions of visitors.

02:04 To understand Angkor, we need to understand the history of the Khmer Empire and its founder, Jayavarman II, who unified the people of modern-day Cambodia and established the empire in the 9th century.

04:20 The Khmer Empire, at its start, was overwhelmingly Hindu and Jayavarman II declared himself a universal monarch and established the city of Hari Haralaya on the banks of Tonle Sap, which served as an important source of water, food, and transportation for the entire empire.

06:24 Angkor was unique in its spread out and low population density, with an extensive and advanced water system, and Angkor Wat is just one part of the larger Angkor complex, covering about 1.6 million square meters and being the largest religious structure in the world today.

08:37 Shortly after the completion of Angkor Wat, the Khmer Empire transitioned from Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism, and Angkor Thom, a new Buddhist capital city within the Angkor complex, was built by Jayavarman VII, featuring the Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm Temple; however, after Jayavarman VII's death, the empire reverted back to Hinduism for a period of time before declining and eventually being sacked by invaders, leading to the neglect and abandonment of Angkor.

10:44 Angkor was abandoned and neglected for centuries, but it gained international attention in the 19th century and underwent restoration efforts by the French, although restoration was halted during the Khmer Rouge regime, and the site was later targeted by art thieves; today, Angkor is a popular tourist destination, but there are concerns about the impact of tourism on the water table.

12:51 Angkor is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cambodia and is considered the greatest historical site in Southeast Asia, with its temples serving as enduring symbols of Cambodia's past.