History at a Glance
  by 350 B.C.
  Waves of migrating  peoples  from the south (Indonesia and Malaysia) and from the           north (China and Tibet) meet in Indochina and form new peoples and cultures.
1st century A.D.
The kingdom of Funan is founded in the area that is now Cambodia. Its religion, its language, and much of its culture are borrowed from neighboring India, but its people are Khmers (one of the principal peoples of Indochina).
100 to 550
Funan thrives as a prosperous center of trade between India and China. It dominates Chenla (present-day Thailand) and Champa (present-day southern Vietnam).
late 6th century
The Khmer state of Chenla becomes strong and absorbs Funan.
7th century
Khmer power throughout Indochina first increases, then decreases as Chenla breaks up into many small states.
8th century
Khmer princes from the island of Java establish a strong new state called Kambuja in present-day Cambodia. Culture and religion continue to be influenced by India. Kambuja dominates Indochina for centuries. At its greatest extent, around 1200, the Khmer Empire includes much of present-day Thailand, as well as parts of Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
late 9th century
King Yasovarman I establishes his court and capital in the Angkor region, which becomes the center of Khmer government, scholarship, and worship.
about 1130
The first great temple of Angkor Wat is completed by King Suryavarman II, who also conquers Champa (southern Vietnam).
1177
Rebellious Chams sack the temples and palaces of Angkor.
1181 to 1215
King Jayavarman VII drives the Chams out of Kambuja, builds a huge new capital in the Angkor area, and brings the Khmer Empire to its greatest size and power.
13th and 14th centuries
The Khmer Empire declines. The Annamese people of northern Vietnam conquer Champa. The state of Lan Xang in northern Laos seizes some Khmer territory. An independent kingdom is founded in Siam (present-day Thailand), and the Siamese gradually seize Khmer territory.
1431
Siam captures Angkor. The Khmer capital is relocated at Phnom Penh.
15th to 18th centuries
Cambodia steadily loses territory and power to the Siamese and Vietnamese. By the middle of the 18th century, the king of Cambodia is a puppet of the rulers of Siam and Vietnam.
1862
France acquires control of Vietnam and makes Cambodia into a French protectorate. Together with Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia forms French Indochina.
1941
Norodom Sihanouk is chosen as king by the French shortly before World War II breaks out and Japanese troops occupy Cambodia.
1945
Japan dissolves the French colonial government. King Sihanouk declares Cambodian independence, but France retains some control of the government after the end of World War II.
1953
Sihanouk demands full independence for Cambodia. The French grant it on November 9.
1950s and 1960s
Cambodia proclaims itself neutral in international conflicts, breaks off relations with the United States, and develops closer relations with the People's Republic of China. Some opponents of Sihanouk's rule form guerrilla resistance groups.
1970
General Lon Nol overthrows Sihanouk and forms a new government called the Khmer Republic. The Khmer Republic is supported by the United States, which is engaged in the Vietnam War. U.S. bombers make strikes against suspected bases of Vietnamese communist guerrillas in Cambodia until 1973.
1975
Communist Khmer Rouge guerrilla forces led by Pol Pot take over the country and rename it Democratic Kampuchea. Under Pol Pot's rule, millions of Cambodians die of starvation, execution, torture, or disease. Thousands more flee to refugee camps.
1979
Vietnam invades Cambodia and overthrows the Democratic Kampuchea government. Heng Samrin, a Cambodian supported by Vietnam, is named head of state. The country is renamed the People's Republic of Kampuchea.
1989
The Vietnamese withdraw from Cambodia. Guerrilla warfare spreads through the country, led by three resistance groups: the Khmer Rouge; a noncommunist group called the Khmer People's National Liberation front; and Sihanouk's followers.
1992-93
United Nations efforts result in a peace accord. Sihanouk denounces the Khmer Rouge and again becomes head of state. The Khmer Rouge withdraws from the peace process and resumes fighting. U.N.-supervised elections in 1993 result in the adoption of a new constitution and Sihanouk's formal return to the throne.
1997
Khmer Rouge movement dwindles, but political instability and violence continue as one government faction ousts another.
1998
A second general election was held in July .

Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is once again a peaceful place to visit. It is, at present, in the process of getting rebuilt. Cambodia now in-corporates a Parliamentary Government system, with His Majesty Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King and Head of State; H.E. Samdech Chea Sim, President of the Senate; H.R.H. Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, President of the National Assembly and H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister. His Majesty effectively remains the symbol of national unity for the people of Cambodia who hold him dear to their hearts.