By Tim Lambert
Early Cambodia
c 2,300 BC People in Cambodia begin farming. At first they use stone tools.
1,500 BC People in Cambodia begin using bronze tools
500 BC People in Cambodia begin using iron. The first civilisation arises in the Mekong River Delta.
c 600 AD All of Cambodia is highly civilized
802 AD Jayavarman founds the Khmer Empire
1203-1220 AD King Jayavarman VII forces the Chams from what is now Vietnam to submit to him.
1431 The Thais capture the Cambodian capital Angkor
1550 The power of Cambodia continues to decline
1594 The Thais capture the capital
1700 Cambodia is squeezed between two powerful neighbours Thailand and Vietnam
1772 The Thais destroy Phnom Phen
1833 The Thais invade Cambodia but soon retreat
1834 The Vietnamese assert control over Cambodia
1840-41 A rebellion takes place
1863 Cambodia becomes a French protectorate
1941 Cambodia is occupied by the Japanese
1945 The French take over Cambodia again
Modern Cambodia
1953 Cambodia becomes independent
1955 The first elections are held in Cambodia
1968 The Communists begin a civil war in Cambodia
1975 The Communists capture Phnom Penh. Pol Pot introduces a tyrannical regime.
1978 Vietnam invades Cambodia
1989 Vietnamese forces withdraw from Cambodia
1991 The Paris Peace Accords are signed
1993 Elections are held in Cambodia
1998 Pol Pot dies
1999 Cambodia joins ASEAN
2004 Norodom Sihamoni becomes king
2005 Oil is discovered off Cambodia
