The Kingdom Of Angkor By Chau Ju-Kua

Primary sources often provide insightful information about an element of culture that is written in a unique perspective. One of these pieces of literature is “The Kingdom of Angkor” that is said to be written by Chau Ju-Kua. This passage is written from a unique perspective because the author was a foreign trade inspector (Duiker and Spielvogel). Though it is unclear, his intended audience for the passage could have been other tradesmen or seafarers to enlighten them about the possible trade market in the city. It could have also been written for those in power to get information about the prosperity of a close city (Duiker and Spielvogel). Knowing the intended audience for a piece of literature is important because it could change what the passage is about. If this passage was written for tradesmen and

The information about the decline, however, does not seem completely accurate. It is hinted that there is a large separation between the king and the people because of the lavish lifestyle the king had. The passage does not elude to the fact that the city was at war countless times, which is suggested to be the reason for the fall of the city (Duiker and Spielvogel). Another aspect that was largely mentioned in the passage was the various items available for trade. It can be said that Angkor had several native items to trade, such as raw silk, cotton, feathers, and wax. This information would most likely be accurate because the author was a foreign trade inspector (Duiker and Spielvogel). Lastly, the passage also mentions the importance and the religious rituals that were held; this teaches us that religion was an important aspect in this city. The information seems to be accurate as well because of the remarkable religious temples that were built in Angkor (Duiker and