Funan was the name given by Chinese diplomats, in the mid 200's, to the kingdom, or collection of kingdoms, centred around the Mekong Delta.
Funan encompassed what is now the Kingdom of Cambodia, the bottom half of Vietnam, half of Laos, most of Thailand and quite possibly the entire Malay peninsula.
It is believed they controlled the Malacca strait which was an essential thoroughfare for trade between India and China. Archaeological finds in Southern Vietnam, Cambodia and around the Malacca strait have revealed trade goods from China, India, Greece and the Roman Empire.
Funan reached it zenith in in the early 300's and by mid century was shrinking rapidly. Last mention of it in Chinese records was in the mid 500's.
It is unknown whether it was subsumed by new invaders from the North or if it simply broke up into warring city states which were then reconciled by the people who came to be known as the Khmer some 200 plus years later.
Whatever happened to Funan the people of this area (specifically Cambodia and Southern Vietnam) went on to form one of the greatest empires South East Asia has ever seen - Angkor.
At a time when London had approximately 50,000 residents Angkor is believed to have had more than 1 million. Much more on Angkor later when I'm actually in Cambodia.
Hopefully this little history lesson will explain not only the blog name but set the scene for the my travels in the Kingdom of Wonder.
Si
Funan encompassed what is now the Kingdom of Cambodia, the bottom half of Vietnam, half of Laos, most of Thailand and quite possibly the entire Malay peninsula.
It is believed they controlled the Malacca strait which was an essential thoroughfare for trade between India and China. Archaeological finds in Southern Vietnam, Cambodia and around the Malacca strait have revealed trade goods from China, India, Greece and the Roman Empire.
Funan reached it zenith in in the early 300's and by mid century was shrinking rapidly. Last mention of it in Chinese records was in the mid 500's.
It is unknown whether it was subsumed by new invaders from the North or if it simply broke up into warring city states which were then reconciled by the people who came to be known as the Khmer some 200 plus years later.
Whatever happened to Funan the people of this area (specifically Cambodia and Southern Vietnam) went on to form one of the greatest empires South East Asia has ever seen - Angkor.
At a time when London had approximately 50,000 residents Angkor is believed to have had more than 1 million. Much more on Angkor later when I'm actually in Cambodia.
Hopefully this little history lesson will explain not only the blog name but set the scene for the my travels in the Kingdom of Wonder.
Si
Hi Si. First day of your holiday. And now I am learning to blog. We are off to the Church Road classic hits winery tour today. Not sure where you are but hope its all going to plan so far. Rachel (Lockyer), LOL, I know there are a couple of Rachels in your world, although not as lovely as me..
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