The Angkor/Khmer Empire is located in modern day Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and the bottom part of Vietnam. Before 790 CE the kingdom was split into several small groups in the Mekong River area. These areas had different leaders. The leaders would be chosen if they were great warriors, great religious leaders or both. The influence these leaders made on their group/tribe didn't last beyond their time in power.
Ancient Chinese historians called this area of the Mekong River "Funan", which is from the Khmer word Phnom, which means 'hill'. It is unknown what the local people called themselves their area. |