Designs of Kings and Farmers: Landscape Systems of the Greater Angkor Urban Complex

Greater Angkor's landscape reveals two distinct planning traditions: centralized, elite-driven designs and decentralized, locally driven systems. Contrary to prevailing views, extensive cultural landscapes can emerge without top-down control, often shaped by local traditions. Using remote-sensing imagery from 2007–2010, researchers mapped 1,000 km² of rice fields and 22,000 km of bunds, identifying 'coaxial' (centralized) and 'cardinal' (local) systems. These systems reflect divergent development models with lasting physical impacts, still visible today. The study highlights complex interactions between central and local planning, challenging assumptions about the origins of large-scale landscape designs.

Hawken, S. (2013). Designs of Kings and Farmers: Landscape Systems of the Greater Angkor Urban Complex. Asian Perspectives, 52(2), 347–367. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2013.0010