Teacher's Guide for CALLIOPE: Ancient Khmers Teacher guide prepared by: Gloria W. Lannom, a regular contributer to CALLIOPE ®.
Turn to page 3 showing the map.
What present day countries are neighbors of Cambodia? In the article titled "Who were the Ancient Khmerss?" - Find a relationship between the Khmerss and other peoples or cultures that gives a clue to the answer to this question.
- (The Khmers language is related to Mon-Khmers family languages spoken in other parts of Southeast Asia.)
- What was the most important trade product produced by the southern Kingdom of Funan?
- (Rice)
- As Khmers rulers came into power, what steps did they take to show their authority and power? Hint: see page 8.
- (They constructed a new temple-mountain, moved the center of the kingdom to a new location, established religious rest houses, and ordered the building of a reservoir to hold rain water for irrigation of the rice fields.)
- How were Khmers workers on the king's projects paid?
- (They weren't, they were conscripted to government service.)
- Which Khmers monument is considered the finest?
- (Angkor Wat)
- Who ordered it built?
- (Suryavarman II)
- What is the building material?
- (sandstone)
- What is the height of the highest tower?
- (213 feet)
- What surrounds the entire walled complex?
- (a moat)
- How do you reach the entrance?
- (along a causeway)
- To which Hindu god was it dedicated?
- (Vishnu)
- What do the low relief carvings along the gallery represent?
- (mythical scenes from the great Indian Hindu epics, military subjects, and the king holding an audience)
- Who could climb to the summit of the central tower during Khmers times?
- (only the priests and the king)
- Who can climb up today?
- (any visitor to Angkor Wat)
- What is the meaning of the Myth of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk?
- (the battle between good represented by the gods and evil represented by the demons and the need to restore order out of chaos)
Look at the illustration of the dancer on page 24. How old is the classical dance of Cambodia? (about 1,000 years old).
Now return to the article on Angkor Wat and find the source of today's classical dance. (pages 20-21)
The article on page 29 mentions three kinds of ceramics used by the ancient Khmerss. - What are they?
- (Khmers earthenware and stoneware and imported Chinese porcelain)
- What is the difference between earthenware and stoneware?
- (earthenware is porous and stoneware will hold liquids)
- Who probably made the earthenware?
- (women potters)
- Who probably made the stoneware?
- (men)
- Where were the three kinds of ceramics used?
- (in the home, at the court, and in religious ceremonies)
Read the article that begins on page 40. - Find the paragraph that discusses two possible reasons why the Khmers civilization collapsed.
- (overuse of the land so that rice production was insufficient or insufficient water supply)
"Where Climate Rules" on page 43 describes an amazing fact about Tonle Sap. - What is it?
- (the annual monsoon floods cause the lake to increase four times in size)
In the article on page 45, - find the name of the king who built the Bayon.
- (Jayavarman VII)
- What was his religion?
- (Buddhism)
- Who is the deity shown as four large gently smiling faces on the towers?
- (Lokesvara, a compassionate Buddhist deity)
- Find photos of the faces.
- (front and back covers)
Look at "Taking Care of Angkor" on page 48. - Why should Angkor be protected?
- (It is a major world monument.)
A list of Cambodian words with their English meanings appears on page 15. - Look through the issue and find the meanings of some other important words:
- Sanskrit
Hinduism
ascetics
"varman" found on the end of king's names
naga
maharaja
protectorate
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