6. The Dawn of French Indochina

12/2/2021

What happened in the years leading up the French colonisation of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam? How did Cambodian rulers become so dependent on either Siam or Vietnam for protection?

Time period covered: 1789 - 1887

In this episode, Lachlan bridges the gap between Cambodia’s ‘middle period’ and the dawn of French colonisation of Indochina. Beginning with the French revolution and its links with the eventual Khmer Rouge revolution, we then explore the imposition of Vietnamese control on Cambodia in the 19th century, as well as the story of a French naturalist who visited the region. The episode ends with the different ways in which the French conquered Cambodia and Vietnam.

The story of Cambodia’s ‘years of calamity’ and the influence of this period on the psyche of a country dominated by the ascendant Siam and Vietnam is explored. We even have an introduction to the early years of Saloth Sar, otherwise known as Pol Pot.

Sources
David Chandler A History of Cambodia
Henri Mouhot Travels in Siam, Cambodia and Laos
Philip Short Pol Pot: History of a Nightmare

1 Comment

Allan George Beesey

6/8/2024 04:45:52 pm

This is much appreciated, fills in gaps for me while studying the Sekong/Sesan Basin area for a possible book. I may have missed but the British in Siam did not get much coverage, the Siam conflict was quite related to Siam advisors I would say. Hence I see very little related to formation of Siam, Lao Cambodian borders and the French. Wat Phou, once a major Khmer centre became Lao overtime under the Champasak Kingdom that ruled all adjoining provinces - no nation state borders. Khmer Rouge were very active in the Northeast too, do you touch on this at all? Anyway you have done a brilliant job for an Aussie of which I am too after 30 years in the Mekong region. Allan

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