Angkor was the primary home of nobles in the latter half of the empire. Most of its reign was marked by war as the Khmer attempted to grow ever larger and capture more territory. The bulk of what we know about this empire comes from stone murals in the region, as well as firsthand accounts from Chinese diplomat, Zhou Daguan, who traveled to Angkor in 1296, and published a book on his experiences called 'The Customs of Cambodia'. Six hundred and 30 years later, in 1432, it dissolved. The empire's greatest king was Jayavarman VII, who built temples, monuments, highways and hospitals. The Khmer Empire began in approximately 802 C.E. Little is known about the Khmer Empire however, its capital city of Angkor was said to be awe-inspiring, thanks in part to the Angkor Wat, one of the world's largest religious complex, built by Suryavarman II, around 1122 C.E. Angkor Thom, established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VI, located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire.
