History
The Kingdom of Funan
In the 1st century of Christian reckoning the kingdom of Funan
establishes itself in the Mekong delta, which today is
Vietnamese territory. The founders of this kingdom have probably
been Indian immigrants. In subsequent centuries Funan develops
into a seafaring merchant power without expanding into
a state with a large land area.
It is strategically well located to become a trading power as
in those days ships travelled almost exclusively close to the
coastline and the land tip of the Mekong delta was an important
stopover on the sea route between China and the Malay
realms on the Malay Peninsula, on Sumatra and on Java.
In the 6th century the kingdom of Funan dissolves. An important
reason for the decline of Funan is the improved seafaring technology
allowing ships to stray farther from the coasts. Funan is conquered
by the kingdom of Champa, which has established itself to the
North of Funan.
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