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The Khmer were once a very powerful ruling body in Asia.  Their empire began around 800 AD and managed to last over 600 years.  There are many great monuments to the Khmer in Cambodia as well as northeast Thailand.

During the time of the great Khmer Empire, they possessed most of Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam.  The empire ended when the Khmer were conquered by the Thai and Vietnamese.  They were then basically contained in Cambodia, where most Khmer still remain.

Around 90% of the Khmer live in Cambodia, though there are over 1,000,000 Northern Khmer living in Thailand.  There are also Khmer in Vietnam.  The Khmer living in Thailand are primarily settled in Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, and Nakhon Rachasim.

The Khmer are a very religious group of people.  About 96% of the population practices Theravada Buddhism.  Though they are Buddhists, and have traditionally been Buddhist for most of recorded history, there are some relics of past religion still present.  Many demon and spirits from ancient Khmer religion are still apparent.

Many young peasant boys join the monastery as Buddhist monks in order to acquire an education.  Most Khmer men served as monks at some point prior to marriage.  Buddhism is a very important part of the Khmer’s traditional culture.

Though much of Khmer’s culture was disrupted during the Khmer Rouge Rule, they are a traditionally very talented people.  The Khmers are known for highly developed music, dance, and silk weaving.  They are also famous for their incredible farming skills, though many craftsmen, teachers, and politicians came from the Khmer as well.

The Khmer traditionally lived in the lowland through which the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers flow. They were very well developed rice farmers by tradition. The traditional Khmer home would be made from bamboo and thatch.

There is a very simple social structure in the Khmer Villages. There are basically two men in charge, though they are in charge of very different things.  The Village Chief is in charge of all political and secular matters, and is the Khmer link to central government.  The other important leader in Khmer culture is the Buddhist monk in charge of each village.  The Khmer believe in keeping church and state separate. The Village Monk, is around to keep all villagers in line with the teachings of Theravada Buddhism.  Some of the things that are forbidden for religious reasons are adultery, the killing of any living things (Theravada are traditionally vegetarians), drinking, stealing, and lying.  Whenever a villager breaks a religious rule, they are dealt with by the Village Monk as opposed to the Village Chief.

Since the Khmer follow Theravada Buddhism so closely, they follow the middle path of Nirvana.  It is believed that one can only earn Nirvana through good deeds done in human life. This is one of the reasons that so many boys join the monastery. It is also the reason that Khmer are often helpful in building new monasteries, feeding the monks, or participating in any number of other good deeds.

The Khmer are a monogamous people, as are most groups in this region.  They trace their descent from both the mother and father’s side.