JAYAVARMAN VII

born c. 1120, /25 died c. 1215, /19 Ruined temples at the Angkor Thom complex, Angkor, Cambodia. one of the most forceful and productive kings of the Khmer (Cambodian) Empire of Angkor (reigning 1181c. 1215). He expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent and engaged in a building program that yielded numerous temples (including Angkor Thom; see photograph), highways, rest houses, and hospitals. Additional reading The classic treatment of Jayavarman VII is found in the chapter devoted to him in George Coedes, Angkor: An Introduction (1963). In addition, the role of Jayavarman and his work within the broader context of Khmer history are discussed in Christopher Pym, The Ancient Civilization of Angkor (1968). Frank E. Reynolds