A member of the largest ethnic group in
Cambodia living mainly in agricultural and
fishing villages under a chief. Khmer
minorities also live in E Thailand and S
Vietnam. The Khmer language belongs to the
Mon-Khmer family of Austro-Asiatic languages.
The Khmer empire, an early SE Asian
civilization, was founded AD 616 and came
under Indian cultural influence as part of
the SE Asian kingdom of Funan. The earliest
inscriptions in the Khmer language date from
the 7th century AD. The Khmer empire reached
its zenith in the 9th-13th centuries, with
the building of the capital city and temple
complex at Angkor. The Khmers were eventually
pushed back by the Thais into the territory
they occupy today. The anti-French
nationalists of Cambodia adopted the name
Khmer Republic 1971-75, and the name
continues in use by the communist movement
called the Khmer Rouge. The Khmers practice
Theravada Buddhism and trace descent through
both male and female lines. Traditionally,
Khmer society was divided into six groups:
the royal family, the Brahmans (who
officiated at royal festivals), Buddhist
monks, officials, commoners, and slaves.