World History Timeline

Countries / Southeast Asia

History of Cambodia

13 notable historical events in Cambodia, in chronological order.

War · 6Politics · 6Dynasty · 1Treaty · 1Revolution · 1Religion · 2Art · 1Economy · 1

1st century

  1. c. 1st century★★★★★

    Rise of the kingdom of Funan

    Funan emerges in the lower Mekong region, becoming a hub of maritime trade between India and China.

    PoliticsEconomy· Cambodia, Vietnam

9th century

  1. 802★★★★★

    Jayavarman II founds the Khmer Empire

    Jayavarman II proclaims himself chakravartin (universal monarch) on Phnom Kulen, declaring independence from Java and founding the Khmer Empire.

    DynastyPolitics· Cambodia

12th century

  1. c. 1110s – c. 1150s★★★★★

    Construction of Angkor Wat

    King Suryavarman II builds Angkor Wat, originally a temple to Vishnu and today the largest religious monument in the world.

    ReligionArt· Cambodia
  2. 1181★★★★★

    Accession of Jayavarman VII

    Jayavarman VII becomes Khmer king, bringing the empire to its greatest extent and building Angkor Thom and the Bayon.

    PoliticsReligion· Cambodia

15th century

  1. c. 1431★★★★★

    Ayutthaya captures Angkor

    Ayutthaya's forces take Angkor; the Khmer court subsequently moves south towards Phnom Penh, ending the Angkorian period.

    War· Cambodia, Thailand

19th century

  1. October 1887★★★★★

    Formation of French Indochina

    France creates the Indochinese Union of Cochinchina, Annam, Tonkin and Cambodia; Laos is added in 1893.

    Politics· Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, France

20th century

  1. December 19, 1946 – 1954★★★★★

    First Indochina War

    War between the Việt Minh and France breaks out in Hanoi and lasts until the Geneva Accords of 1954.

    War· Vietnam, France, Laos, Cambodia
  2. July 21, 1954★★★★★

    Geneva Accords on Indochina

    The Geneva Conference ends the First Indochina War, temporarily partitioning Vietnam at the 17th parallel pending elections planned for 1956.

    Treaty· Vietnam, France, Laos, Cambodia, Switzerland
  3. November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975★★★★★

    Vietnam War

    A conflict between North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on one side and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and its allies, on the other; it ends with the fall of Saigon in 1975.

    War· Vietnam, United States, Laos, Cambodia
  4. 1959★★★★★

    Ho Chi Minh trail established

    North Vietnam forms Group 559 to build a supply network through Laos and Cambodia to the South along the Trường Sơn range.

    War· Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
  5. April 17, 1975 – January 7, 1979★★★★★

    Khmer Rouge take Phnom Penh; Cambodian genocide begins

    The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh and forcibly empty the cities; Pol Pot's regime causes the deaths of an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people.

    RevolutionPolitics· Cambodia
  6. December 25, 1978 – 1989★★★★★

    Cambodian–Vietnamese War

    Following Khmer Rouge border attacks, Vietnam invades Cambodia, takes Phnom Penh on 7 January 1979 and overthrows the Khmer Rouge; Vietnamese troops remain until 1989.

    War· Vietnam, Cambodia
  7. September 1989★★★★★

    Vietnam withdraws from Cambodia

    Vietnam completes the withdrawal of its troops from Cambodia, opening the way to the Cambodian peace process.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, Cambodia
History of Cambodia · World History Timeline