cambodia

The ancient Khmer Empire, centered in Angkor, Cambodia, from 802 to 1431 AD, is remembered not only for its ornate stone temples such as Angkor Wat and Bayon but also for its innovative hydraulic engineering. The Khmer built a 1,000 square kilometer complex, including a network of reservoirs, canals, embankments, and moats, all part of a water management system. These structures captured the seasonal monsoon rains and supplied water to Angkor. Angkor was also one of the largest pre-industrial urban complexes in the world and may have covered a larger area than any other pre-industrial city. Khmer constructions were not simply feats of engineering, they also created economic prosperity. Khmer rulers viewed the water system as a symbol of good