Cambodia

Located in the Mekong River basin and delta, one of the earliest polities to emerge in Southeast Asia was referred to as Funan in early 3rd century Chinese chronicles. This polity developed in close association with the international maritime trade connecting the region with India, China and the West. In the first six centuries a.C., Funan played an important role in maritime trade comparable to that assumed by the Srivijaya kingdom of East Sumatra from the 7th century.

In the 7th century, the capital of this delta polity moved inland to the dry region of the Tonle Sap Lake in modern Cambodia. Although contemporary inscriptions do not suggest that this relocation resulted from an abrupt political upheaval, the Chinese chronicles renamed this new seat of power as Chenla.