Funan

Funan was an ancient kingdom located in Southeast Asia, roughly in present-day Cambodia and Vietnam, flourishing from the 1st to the 6th centuries CE. It was a vibrant trading hub, connecting Indian Ocean and Chinese merchants, and played a key role in regional commerce and cultural exchange. Funan was known for its sophisticated infrastructure, including irrigation and waterways, and for adopting Indian religious and artistic influences, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. Its strategic location made it a center of economic and cultural activity, laying foundations for subsequent Southeast Asian civilizations.