The Social Structure
Not unlike the medieval feudal system, the Angkor Empire operated under a strict hierarchy. This hierarchy was mainly made up of five groups; the kings, the nobles/officials, the artisans/professionals, the peasants and finally, the slaves. Each group had their own roles and social responsibilities in society. It must be noted that the women of Angkor's place in society greatly differed from that of medieval women. In this way, Angkor society was ahead of its time.
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Angkor Kings |
The king was the highest authority in the empire. He sat at the top of the social pyramid. In 802, Jayavarman II appointed himself 'ruler of the world'. Kings were considered to be both monarchs and divine beings. They were known as 'deva-raja' or God-kings. Nobles and officials vowed eternal loyalty to the king. The king's responsibilities were to run the empire properly and to pay due respect to his people. Kings also built many of the famous Angkor temples. The purpose of this was mainly to display the empire's might. The king also benefited from dedicating temples to gods, as it improved his reputation.
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Nobles |
After the king, nobles and officials were the highest-ranking social group. The king usually appointed these positions to those who had his favour, such as friends and family. Their main role was to carry out administrative work. Nobles often managed their land with the help of temples. Farmers gave crops as taxes to the priests who rewarded them with. Local temples were under the authority of regional temples, which eventually reported to the King.
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Artisans |
Almost nothing is known about this particular group, perhaps due to the fact that they were a very small group. We do know that they mostly consisted of professionals or skilled people; such as architects, merchants, fisherman and craftsmen.
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Peasants |
Peasants were the largest group in Angkor society. They were mostly made up of rice farmers. They were required to serve in the army in times of conflict and to work on any buildings or temples.
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Slaves |
Slaves were, unsurprisingly, the lowest-ranking individuals in the Angkor social structure. Their numbers are unknown but we are aware that there were a variety of slaves. Some were prisoners of war from rival kingdoms. Others were forced into slavery or bought and sold. The last belonged to the temples.
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Analysing Sources: Fresco
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By Avia S.