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The Khmer Empire's Spice Routes and the Quest for Cardamom
In this episode of The Khmer Empire: The Lost Civilization Behind Angkor Wat, Lucas and Luna explore the empire's lucrative but little-discussed trade in forest spices, particularly the prized cardamom of the Krâvanh Mountains. Drawing on Zhou Daguan's observations and modern archaeological finds, they trace how Khmer merchants exchanged aromatic resins, cardamom, and benzoin for Chinese silks and ceramics. The conversation reveals how these non-rice commodities shaped diplomatic gifts, temple rituals, and the everyday economy. They also touch on the ecological impact of medieval…
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