Vietnam
/ History / The Kingdom of Funan
Downtown street in Hanoi
In the 1st
century of Christian reckoning the kingdom of Funan establishes
itself in the Mekong delta, which today is Vietnamese territory.
The founders of this kingdom have probably been Indian immigrants.
In subsequent centuries Funan develops into a seafaring merchant
power without expanding into a state with a large land area.
It is strategically
well located to become a trading power as in those days ships
travelled almost exclusively close to the coastline and the land
tip of the Mekong delta was an important stopover on the sea route
between China and the Malay realms on the Malay
Peninsula, on Sumatra and on Java.
In the 6th
century the kingdom of Funan dissolves. An important reason
for the decline of Funan is the improved seafaring technology
allowing ships to stray farther from the coasts. Funan is conquered
by the kingdom of Champa, which has established itself to the
North of Funan.
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