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Cambodian History Trivia Quiz

Moving along with my ever popular series on SE Asian history we now reach Cambodia. Here are 10 questions that should cover the basics of Cambodian history pre-20th century. You'll find the basics of ancient Cambodian history here...enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
78,774

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3431

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 106 (5/10), hellobion (10/10), Guest 178 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The earliest state to exist on what is now Cambodia was called Norkor Phnom (Norkor Kuork Phlouk). What did the Chinese call this distant southern land that probably was born in the 1st century B.C.? Hint

Changchun

Funan

Annam

Ruishi

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Question 2 of 10

2. By the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. another state began to develop in the midst of the decline of Norkor Phnom. The Chinese also record the existence of this empire, one they call what? Hint

Xijiang

Nan Chao

Chenla

Yunnan

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The greatest Cambodian empire, the Khmer, was established in the 9th century A.D. under which great king? Hint

Indravarman

Suryavarman

Jayavarman II

Jayavarman VII

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Khmer empire was centered on a great capital, famous for its water works. What was this capital called? Hint

Angkor Thom

Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

Oc Eo

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Khmer empire began to decline by the 14th century due to internal rebellions, economic mismanagement and the introduction of Theravada Buddhism. People of which nation brought the empire to its knees by invading the capital in 1353? Hint

Burma

Thailand

Vietnam

Java

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Question 6 of 10

6. Cambodia further declined as a vigorous nation when in the 1620s, the Vietnamese conquered the former Cambodian dominated Mekong delta region. Which people were also displaced in this Vietnamese power move? Hint

Hmong

Champa

Negeri

Kachin

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In the late seventeenth century, a king arose who would later be characterized as the 'king who left religion'. What had actually happened to this fellow? Hint

Converted to Islam

Became a nihilist

Secretly was baptized catholic

Switched from Theravada to Mahayan Buddhism

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In 1779, a six-year-old boy was selected as the new king of Cambodia. In 1794, he was crowned as king in an official ceremony in Bangkok, the first time a Cambodian king had ever been crowned by a foreign power. Who was this young king? Hint

Son Sen

Sing Ra

Ang Eng

Ta Mok

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the year 1863, which country established a protectorate over Cambodia? Hint

England

Portugal

Holland

France

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was the last monarch of a free Cambodia, prior to the colonial period? Hint

King Sihanouk

King Norodom

King Racha

King Ranariddh

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 14 2024 : Guest 106: 5/10
Nov 08 2024 : hellobion: 10/10
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 178: 10/10
Nov 05 2024 : FrappMaster: 10/10
Oct 14 2024 : Guest 80: 1/10
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 147: 4/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Funan

Norkor Phnom translates into English as 'King of the Mountain'. It was during the time that Funan dominated Cambodia that we see the Indianization of its culture, with Hinduism and Sanskrit being introduced probably from the islands to the south.

2. By the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. another state began to develop in the midst of the decline of Norkor Phnom. The Chinese also record the existence of this empire, one they call what?

Answer: Chenla

Chenla was divided into 'Water Chenla', located around the Mekong river delta (in present day Vietnam), and 'Land Chenla', located along the Mekong south of laos (present day Cambodia). Chenla was eventually conquered and Cambodia controlled by the Sailendra Dynasty of Java.

3. The greatest Cambodian empire, the Khmer, was established in the 9th century A.D. under which great king?

Answer: Jayavarman II

At the reign of Jayavarman VII, Khmer was at its greatest height.

4. The Khmer empire was centered on a great capital, famous for its water works. What was this capital called?

Answer: Angkor Thom

At its height, hundreds of thousands of people lived within the walled city of Angkor Thom (whose name is derived from the Sanskrit term 'nagara', meaning 'city'). Interestingly, though Angkor contained massive temples and other stone structures, no one lived within these buildings.

Instead, people lived in wooden buildings nearby. The stone structures were reserved for religious purposes, and all of these structures were connected by a series of moats and reservoirs, the most famous being Angkor Wat.

Answer: Thailand

The Thais again invaded Angkor in 1430-31, and the city was abandoned soon afterward.

Answer: Champa

The Champa, former rivals of the Khmers who existed in the Mekong delta region. From this time, the Vietnamese Nguyen dynasty exercised extensive influence over Cambodia.

7. In the late seventeenth century, a king arose who would later be characterized as the 'king who left religion'. What had actually happened to this fellow?

Answer: Converted to Islam

This Cambodian king, named Ibrahim, had married a Malay woman and accepted Islam as his religion. This had been the first time a Cambodia had had a non-Buddhist ruler and it did not sit well with the people. He was assassinated by his own nephew and vilified by future Cambodian historians, illustrating the power of Buddhism in Cambodian life.

Answer: Ang Eng

With Ang Eng's crowning in Bangkok, Cambodia's role as a Thai puppet state was firmly established. However, this puppet had two puppet masters! Following Ang Eng's death in 1796 (he was only 23) his son, Ang Chan, was crowned king (in 1805, at the age of 15). Ang Chan was soon courted by the Vietnamese, who sent him an official Vietnamese court seal. Thus were Cambodian monarchs to play one power off of another for the next 80 years, while being controlled by both.

9. In the year 1863, which country established a protectorate over Cambodia?

Answer: France

The Cambodians were forced to accept French suzerainty as a way of fending off its Thai and Vietnamese neighbors, both of whom continued to threaten its borders. French rule would last about 90 years.

10. Who was the last monarch of a free Cambodia, prior to the colonial period?

Answer: King Norodom

Norodom had 'asked' for French protection, essentially inviting the colonial power to take control of his nation, an unusual example of voluntary colonization.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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