The Khmer Plague: How Disease Toppled Angkor

The Khmer Empire: The Lost Civilization Behind Angkor Wat — Fexingo History · Sep 16, 2026 · 6m · transcript

While historians have long debated the fall of the Khmer Empire through lenses of war, climate change, and religious shift, a quieter killer may have done the most damage. This episode explores the devastating impact of the plague in Southeast Asia during the 14th century, examining how epidemic disease interacted with the empire’s complex hydraulic systems and shifting trade routes. We look at the specific years between 1350 and 1370, when outbreaks likely decimated the population centers around Angkor Thom and Siem Reap. Lucas and Luna discuss the archaeological evidence of abandoned urban…