Water Uses
Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River
Tonle Sap Lake was a giant reservoir for Mekong
River. Eventually, settlements in Angkor established on the north-west shore of
this lake, close to rice fields. The growing population were able to build
floating houses and villages on the lake, eating the steady supply of fish.
The upper waters of Mekong River allowed access for trade and down the stream, the Mekong connected this empire to the rest of the world The Mekong River was a good defence for the settlements around Tonle Sap as it had many sand bars, changing currents and courses. Local knowledge was needed to navigate it, and that's what gave the Khmer empire an advantage in attacks and defences. |
Even though the different kings moved the kingdom's capital regularly, they were all found near the fertile area of Tonle Sap Lake. These capitals included Hariharata, Yasodharapura, Jayendanagari, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. A couple of them were very close together; the closest being one to two kilometres apart, as in Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
Reservoirs, Canals and Irrigation Systems
Cambodia, the Khmer homeland received an enormous amount of
rain during their 6 month long wet season, but almost none in its dry season.
This meant settlement was only possible along rivers and lakes. From the 9th
century, vast reservoirs started being built at Angkor and over the following
centuries, complicated systems of moats and canals were built. This made it
possible for the Khmer people to feed a large population with rice and provide
for their need to build and maintain Angkor’s spectacular temples.
Until late in the Khmer Empire’s existence, there were very few roads for transport and trade. Instead, the ability to be able to direct and control the waters of Mekong River and other water bodies lead to their economic prosperity. They established water reservoirs, canals and irrigation systems that ensured they had three or four rice harvests each year, when other areas could only produce one or two. When the Mekong River floods, which happened quite often during wet season, the water of Tonle Sap Lake is directed into a network of dams so the water can be used for other purposes and at different times of the year. |
The people of the Khmer Empire created reservoirs, also
known as barays that were fed by surrounding rivers. These guaranteed and
controlled the water flow and assured good harvests to the empire’s main crop,
rice. To the Khmer people, the Mekong River’s power was god-like and the water
was considered sacred and essential to their survival.
Water for other uses
The water was not only used to
grow rice crops, but also to fill the moats that surrounded the religious and
royal buildings of Angkor. In addition, water was sent to aqueducts that helped
the increasing population of the Khmer Empire. Having the supply of regular water
increased, meant the local rice crops increased and more water transport was
needed. This led to increased trade, which made the Khmer Empire wealthier and
let the kings build more religious monuments.
These barays (reservoirs) fed water through series’ of dams and channels. Often the barays were constructed before the temple was constructed, as it was very important to the final result of the temple. Modern archaeologists have used ground-breaking radars to locate the channels and moats that might’ve been covered by the jungle or been built over in later generations.
These barays (reservoirs) fed water through series’ of dams and channels. Often the barays were constructed before the temple was constructed, as it was very important to the final result of the temple. Modern archaeologists have used ground-breaking radars to locate the channels and moats that might’ve been covered by the jungle or been built over in later generations.
Contestibility
The importance of water reservoirs or baray that surround the temples at Angkor has been a contested
subject among scholars for decades. Some people believe that these reservoirs
were used to hold a large and steady supply of water that irrigated their rice
fields, which meant it made these reservoirs a key to their economy and
essential to the survival of their population. Not only were they meant for
holding water, there was an elaborate system of canals that were connected to
them used for trade and travel. These people think Khmer’s expanding population
put a strain on their water system which led to its seasonal flooding and water
shortages. This theory is known as hydraulic paradigm.
Although the theory seems quite reasonable, recent research by W. J. Van Liere and Robert Acker suggests that the reservoirs or the baray could not have been used for irrigation. Some researchers suggest that the baray may have just been used as a symbol in nature, representing the ocean and fulfilling Hindu mythologies, where Khmer God-Kings may have attempted to represent their relationship with Hindu Gods by building these reservoirs. The University of Sydney’s research efforts, like the Greater Angkor Project II was conducted from 2005-2009 and its result isn’t yet confirmed whether it rejects or agrees with the hydraulic paradigm.
Although the theory seems quite reasonable, recent research by W. J. Van Liere and Robert Acker suggests that the reservoirs or the baray could not have been used for irrigation. Some researchers suggest that the baray may have just been used as a symbol in nature, representing the ocean and fulfilling Hindu mythologies, where Khmer God-Kings may have attempted to represent their relationship with Hindu Gods by building these reservoirs. The University of Sydney’s research efforts, like the Greater Angkor Project II was conducted from 2005-2009 and its result isn’t yet confirmed whether it rejects or agrees with the hydraulic paradigm.