In what ways was the Khmer influenced by india
The Khmer Empire, which was a powerful state in Southeast Asia from the 9th-15th centuries, was heavily influenced by India in various ways. Here are a few examples:
1. Religion: The Khmer Empire adopted Hinduism and Buddhism, which were two major religions in India. Hinduism was the dominant religion in the early period of the Khmer Empire, and many of the early Khmer kings were Hindus. Later, Buddhism became more popular and was adopted as the official religion of the empire. Both religions had a significant impact on Khmer culture, art, and architecture.
2. Language: Sanskrit, which is an ancient Indian language, was used by the Khmer Empire for religious and administrative purposes. Many inscriptions and texts were written in Sanskrit, and it was the language of the elite.
3. Architecture: The Khmer Empire's architecture was heavily influenced by Indian architecture. The most notable example is the Angkor Wat temple complex, which was built in the 12th century and is considered one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Its design was inspired by Indian architecture, particularly the style of the Khajuraho temples in India.
4. Trade: The Khmer Empire was involved in long-distance trade, and India was an important trading partner. India supplied luxury goods such as textiles, spices, and precious stones to the Khmer Empire in exchange for raw materials such as timber, rice, and metals.
Overall, the Khmer Empire was heavily influenced by India in terms of religion, language, architecture, and trade.