AN ANCIENT KINGDOM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA THAT REACHED THE PEAK OF ITS POWER IN THE 11TH CENTURY, WHEN IT RULED THE ENTIRE MEKONG RIVER VALLEY FROM THE CAPITAL AT ANGKOR. IT WAS DESTROYED BY THAI CONQUESTS IN THE 12TH AND 14TH CENTURIES.

When China’s Tang Dynasty weakened in the early a.d. 900s, Vietnam man­ aged to break away. It became an independent kingdom, known as Dai Viet, in 939.

The Sailendra kings left behind another of the world’s great architectural monuments, the Buddhist temple at Borobudur. Built around 800, this temple—like Angkor Wat—reflects strong Indian influence

Powerful kingdoms also developed on Southeast Asia’s islands. For example, a dynasty called Sailendra ruled an agricultural kingdom on the island of Java.

Koryŏ dynasty, in Korean history, dynasty that ruled the Korean peninsula as the Koryŏ kingdom from 935 to 1392 ce. During this period the country began to form its own cultural tradition distinct from the rest of East Asia. It is from the name Koryŏ that the Western name Korea is derived.

one of the world’s greatest architec- tural achievements. The complex, which covers nearly a square mile, was built as a symbolic mountain dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The Khmer also used it as an observatory.

a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen.

a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.

a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain or from the northeast between October and April

Buddhism takes as its goal the escape from suffering and from the cycle of rebirth

a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion.

the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

A RIVER DELTA IS A LANDFORM THAT FORMS AT THE MOUTH OF A RIVER, WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS INTO AN OCEAN, SEA, ESTUARY, LAKE, OR RESERVOIR. DELTAS FORM FROM DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENT CARRIED BY A RIVER AS THE FLOW LEAVES ITS MOUTH.

AN AREA HAVING DEFINABLE CHARACTERISTICS

A GROUP OF STATEA WITH A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUT INDEPENDANCE IN ETERNAL AFFAIRS.