Their latest tour is now over.

Watch The X22 Report On Video 2 videos found Ep 3412b – The Old Guard Is Being Exposed & Forced To Destroy Itself, Nothing Can Stop This Ep 3412a – The Economy Is Improving & Falling Apart At The Same Time, Fed Prepares Narrative Click On Picture To See Larger Picture The economy  is falling apart the same time the Fed and the Biden admin are telling us that it is doing well. As we get closer to the Presidential election the people are going to see the truth. The Fed is prepping the narrative that what they are about to do will not be political. The [DS] is in trouble. Trump is continually exposing the [DS] and forcing the [DS] to destroy themselves. Obama has now endorsed Kamala and now she will become the nominee. They will try to remove Biden to take control of the Residency. When the shine wears off they will most likely try to swap Kamala out for another candidate last minute.   Economy JUST IN – Deutsche Bahn plans to cut 30,000 jobs after €1.2 billion in losses in the year's first six months. — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 25, 2024 Canada’s had the worst growth out of 50 developed economies since 2019, while prices soar to where a full-time job can’t pay the bills. Housing is astronomically expensive, out of reach of nearly 80% of Canadians. Trudeau led a government take-over of the Canadian economy.… https://t.co/Y4mwGLMuQO — Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) July 25, 2024 Soviet policies get Soviet outcomes. BREAKING: New home inventory in the Southern US is officially ABOVE 2007 levels, at 293,000, according to Reventure. In fact, 65% of ALL new homes for sale are currently listed in the South, primarily in Texas and Florida. This is exactly why new homes are now selling for LESS… pic.twitter.com/IWdArzr5sV — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 26, 2024   than existing homes for the first time since 2005. When people are paying MORE for OLD homes, you know something is broken. 1 out of every 3 homes for sale in the US right now is new construction. All while there are a whopping 274,000 new homes under construction. Price cuts are coming soon. BREAKING: Home builders now have 102,000 completed and unsold homes for sale on the market, the highest since 2009, according to Reventure. This comes at a time when mortgage demand is at its lowest level in nearly 30 YEARS. Meanwhile, there are a whopping 274,000 new homes… pic.twitter.com/XxMppQOGfK — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 24, 2024   there are a whopping 274,000 new homes under construction. This is just ~62,000 less homes under construction than the PEAK before the 2008 Financial Crisis. New home supply is skyrocketing in a market where mortgage demand is plummeting. A record 1 out of 3 homes for sale right now is new construction. Price cuts are coming soon. JUST IN: Early credit card delinquencies for low-income households spiked to 4.0%, the highest level since 2011. Early delinquencies have QUADRUPLED in just 2 years, as credit card debt and interest rates are at record highs. These delinquencies have risen for all income… pic.twitter.com/r0MRKLlTcC — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 25, 2024   rising to their highest level in at least 7 years. Excess savings have been depleted, interest payments are at record highs, and prices are still rising. How long can consumers hold on here? U.S Economy Accelerates By More Than Expected, Yet Inflation Remains Stubborn The U.S. economy grew at an annual pace of 2.8 percent in the second quarter, much faster than the two percent forecast by Wall Street analysts. The stronger-than-expected growth indicates that the economy has continued to expand despite high interest rates, calling into question the need for a rate cut from the Federal Reserve in the near term. In the first quarter of the year, growth slowed to 1.4 percent after rapidly growing in the second half of 2023. Consumer spending—the main engine of economic growth—rose 2.3 percent, beating forecasts, according to data released by the Department of Commerce on Thursday. Spending on durable goods led the increase, indicating consumers remain willing to purchase big ticket items such as cars and appliances despite high interest rates. Spending on services accelerated as well. Source: breitbart.com The Fed Could Cut Interest Rates Before The Election, Risking Political Fallout The Federal Reserve appears to be on track to cut its benchmark interest rate in September, just two months ahead of the general election in November. According to conventional wisdom, a rate cut could boost the economy and encourage voters to reward the incumbent political party. Fed officials value the central bank’s independence and avoid stepping into political matters or favoring either party. The risk of being accused of favoritism hasn’t stopped the Fed from election-season rate cuts in the past when economic conditions warranted them. Policymakers at the Federal Reserve try to avoid politics at all costs—but the central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates ahead of the November presidential election, a move that risks causing backlash. The trajectory of the economy has set the Fed on a collision course with the general election, and possibly with former president Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 race. Investors and economists expect the Fed to cut its benchmark interest rate by September. Source:  msn.com  Political/Rights BREAKING: The House just voted in favor of a resolution condemning border czar Kamala Harris for the open border catastrophe. Six Democrats voted with every Republican: Peltola, Golden, MGP, Caraveo, Don Davis, and Cuellar. pic.twitter.com/C3WfsArjeV — Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 25, 2024   If Kamala Harris has done such a good job managing the border crisis, then shouldn’t Democrats and the media be PROUD of her “Border Czar” title? — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 26, 2024   Geopolitical/Police State War Kamala's appearance with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu — after she snubbed his address to Congress — lasted a grand total of 14 seconds before the press was kicked out of the room. pic.twitter.com/8QkmW1sx4r — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 25, 2024 NORAD Jets Make Rare Intercept Of Russian & Chinese Bombers Near Alaska  The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has announced that it intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday. Specifically they were Russian TU-95 Bear and Chinese H-6 bombers, and this marks the first time ever that H-6 bombers entered the Alaska ADIZ, according to military officials. NORAD immediately scrambled US and Canadian fighter jets to intercept and monitor the inbound foreign aircraft, a statement from NORAD said. These involved US F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, alongside Canadian CF-18 fighter jets, according to details given to CNN. The statement added that in the end the foreign aircraft were not seen as a threat. The Russian and Chinese sides later confirmed their aerial forces had conducted “joint strategic aerial patrol in the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea” as part of an existing annual cooperation plan between the two militaries. More: https://t.co/tFWIGDtLR4 @DempseyReports pic.twitter.com/YHQU4jNB1d — NewsNation (@NewsNation) July 25, 2024   Source” zerohedge.com Cyber Attacks False Flags Kamala Harris rails against restricting sexually explicit and pornographic content from elementary schools — SICK! pic.twitter.com/ueRIj9PPYg — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 25, 2024 BREAKING: The Court just granted our motion to BLOCK Joe Biden’s unlawful rewrite of Title IX that allows biological males into female spaces. A HUGE win for women and girls across the country. — Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) July 24, 2024 Obama-Biden-Harris have sent billions to Iran. Iran funds Hamas. https://t.co/RVpIbj4jMQ — Mike Davis (@mrddmia) July 24, 2024   Disgusting. How much worse will things get in the coming months? #KeepYourPowderDry https://t.co/LNn4E0Nnbc — Lisa Mei (@TheNotoriousLMC) July 24, 2024   “America does not have a white supremacy problem. It has a spoiled, unhinged, white liberals problem.” —Kayleigh McEnany is correct! The elite’s bastard offspring are EXACTLY what’s wrong with the world today! — Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) July 25, 2024 Clean up crews remove pro-Hamas messages spray painted in Washington DC yesterday. pic.twitter.com/64YHuVpjAZ — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 25, 2024 Breaking: John Kirby confirmed that Iran is funding the protests in the US: “We do know that Iran has been funding and encouraging some of the protest activity here in the United States.” pic.twitter.com/TGiWaXtNEf — Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) July 25, 2024   Yesterday Chris Wray claimed there’s an “alarming phenomenon” of rising political violence. He insisted the FBI won’t tolerate violence on behalf of political causes. The FBI still hasn’t condemned the latest Hamasurrection or announced an investigation into the organizers… pic.twitter.com/JkW8s3t3tC — Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) July 25, 2024     Guess which one is on the FBI's radar pic.twitter.com/WH1kfWj16p — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 24, 2024 Kamala Harris and Democrats Stand with Hamas – Give Benjamin Netanyahu the Shaft… Top Democrats Boycott Israeli Leaders Speech to Congress   Rep. Mary Miller.   Some US allies are more important than others.   Rep. Jim Jordan.   Senator Blackburn slammed Kamala for abandoning the hostages from Israel.   Rep. Greg Steube: ‘Every Jewish American should be outraged.”   Rep. Steve Scalise: Kamala’s actions are “shameless.”   It should be clear now after 3.5 years that this administration and its puppet masters have no regard for this country or global stability. What is their real goal? Source: thegatewaypundit.com People who have been lifelong Democrats refuse to accept the clear reality that the Democratic Party is rapidly become openly antisemitic. This trend is accelerating, not slowing down. Knock, knock. Hello, Captain Obvious here! https://t.co/YspN1d4GQy — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 25, 2024  If those people rioting in Washington yesterday were Republicans/Conservatives, they’d all be in jail right now, facing 10 to 20 year sentences. Under this Crooked Administration, nothing will happen to them! VP for Fraternal Order of Police Warns Kamala Harris Would Be “An Unmitigated Disaster for Public Safety in This Country” If She Becomes President (Watch) Joe Gamaldi, the national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police and an active Houston Police Department lieutenant, presented a chilling image of what will happen to the safety of Americans if Kamala Harris is elected president. Gamaldi told Fox News, “Let’s be clear about something: If Kamala Harris becomes the next president of the United States, she will be an unmitigated disaster for public safety in this country.” “She has loudly and proudly supported bail reform and has even donated and encouraged other people to donate to a fund that helped get murderers, rapists, people who were shooting people in the streets, out on bail,” he said. “We’re not talking about helping bail out the mom who stole a candy bar from the store to help feed her kids; we’re talking about violent criminals.” Watch: During her tenure as Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris kept hundreds of black men in prison past their release date so she could use these men for $2 a day for cheap California state labor. Harris also promoted the Minnesota Bail Fund after the George Floyd riots in 2020, which is responsible for bailing out murderers and rapists. At least two of the murderers that Kamala Harris helped bail out of prison went on to murder again. Source: thegatewaypundit.com Speaker Johnson and a group of House Republicans led by @RepWilliams say the Pledge of Allegiance after replacing the American flags that were taken down by those protesting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Capitol Hill pic.twitter.com/lvwm0SMBoS — Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) July 25, 2024 Q Biden recently alleged that "gallows" erected on January 6th were intended to assassinate Vice President Mike Pence. But today the @FBI Director disagreed with that assessment. pic.twitter.com/Yg5w5pKy6g — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 25, 2024 Biden attempted to bankrupt Trump, throw Trump in prison for life, throw Trump off the ballot, and almost got Trump killed. When Biden failed, Democrat insiders overturned the will of 14 million Democrat primary voters and ousted Biden in a bloodless coup. “Democracy!” https://t.co/Sl3t9DEkyc — Mike Davis (@mrddmia) July 25, 2024 Nowhere else on Earth, except for North Korea, maybe, could a president be hidden from public view for a week, and then show up with a giant bruise on his chin without anyone in the media making a peep about it. https://t.co/qXTXau7aAB pic.twitter.com/HDteTPrzbR — Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) July 25, 2024 President Trump departing Charlotte, North Carolina on Trump Force One… pic.twitter.com/OgTvhSwM0d — Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) July 25, 2024 858 Q !UW.yye1fxo ID: 3c553f No.567440 Mar 6 2018 10:59:13 (EST) Anonymous ID: 7c6e17 No.567393 Mar 6 2018 10:54:42 (EST) >>567386 How did Q know they were going to be in front of that picture this time? >>567393 Trust the plan. Q Why is this allowed by the FEC? https://t.co/YqA5qpmYPK — Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) July 24, 2024 Carl Higbie Exposes the DNC’s “Smurfing” Scandal – $200 Million in Irregular Donations, Disguised to Appear Like Small Donors  Newsmax Carl Higbie has done a deep dive on FEC reports using the “number of donations” as the datapoint to track.  What he discovered about donations to Act Blue might surprise the people assigned to the contributions. {Direct Rumble Link}  WATCH BELOW “This is verifiable data. Whoever is choreographing this volume is doing it in such small donations because they thought those wouldn’t get flagged by watchdogs and FEC officials. The way this is brought to our attention was not by the dollar amount, but rather by the number of donations per person. That’s where they messed up. But my question is, if these people whose names are on the FEC report are not making these donations, who is? Where’s the money coming from?” “We can have all the voter ID laws we want, but if hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing in to influence our elections and we don’t know from whom, not only is it a gross violation of election laws, it’s a huge national security risk. When I tell you Democrats are a machine, this is the kind of stuff I’m talking about.” Carl Higbie has the receipts.  WATCH: Source: theconservativetreehouse.com   The DNC has hiven would-be Harris challengers 3 days to declare their candidacy. Kamala Harris must name a VP running mate by August 7. The DNC is moving ahead with its planned virtual roll call which must be completed by August 7 to comply with Ohio election laws. According to the media: Kamala was NOT the Border Czar. Kamala was NOT the most liberal U.S. Senator. Kamala did NOT promote defund the police. Kamala did NOT say 18-24 year-olds were dumb. And Donald Trump never got shot. You don't hate these people enough. https://t.co/tq7mFZB2Zl — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 25, 2024 Kamala Harris’ number one enemy right now is Barack Obama Make no mistake When he makes his move The entire leftist black community will listen to him and throw her overboard I giver her a week max Enjoy it while it lasts Kamala — Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) July 25, 2024 Obama Won’t Endorse Kamala Harris Because He Thinks She Will Lose to Trump   Many people have been left wondering why President Barack Obama has refused to endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party nominee. According to Biden family sources who spoke with The New York Post, Obama is “upset” that Biden endorsed Harris as the presumptive nominee because he believes she will lose to Donald Trump. “Obama’s very upset because he knows she can’t win,” the source was quoted as saying. “Obama knows she’s just incompetent — the border czar who never visited the border, saying that all migrants should have health insurance. She cannot navigate the landmines that are ahead of her.” The source also warned that Harris would likely make a fool of herself at the debate. “ Obama also reportedly wants Arizona Senator Mark Kelly to serve as Harris’s running mate. Source: thegatewaypundit.com  Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2024  November. We hope you’ll join us. Harris says she’s ready to debate Trump and accuses him of ‘backpedaling’ from Sept. 10 faceoff  Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Thursday that she’s “ready to debate Donald Trump.” She accused him of “backpedaling” away from a previous agreement for a debate hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on the debate stage,” she said after landing at Joint Base Andrews following a trip to Indiana and Texas. The Sept. 10 debate was one of two debates that President Joe Biden and Trump had agreed on. The first one was hosted by CNN on June 27, but Biden has since dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris as his successor. Trump has said he would prefer to shift the debate to Fox News, but he would be willing to face off with Harris more than once. Source: abcnews.com Trump Campaign Statement on General Election Debates  “Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee. There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party – namely Barack Hussein Obama – that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone “better.” Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds.” Ominous Parallels 1968: RFK runs for POTUS2024: RFK Jr runs POTUS 1968: RFK assassinated2024: DJT almost assassinated 1968: Dem POTUS drops out of race2024: Dem POTUS drops out race 1968: Dems hold convention Chicago w/ riots2024: Dems to hold confab Chicago (w/ rioting?) — Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) July 24, 2024 NEW – Whistleblower tells me local law enforcement partners & suppliers offered drones to Secret Service BEFORE the rally – but Secret Service declined pic.twitter.com/UM0jfrMc9z — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 25, 2024   WOW! Wray Says There Were At Least Two Instances Where FBI Officials Expressed Disappointment That Trump Survived Assassination Attempt (VIDEO)  And we are supposed to believe that Trump would-be assassin Thomas Crooks acted alone? FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. On July 13 President Trump was grazed in the ear after a 20-year-old gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks climbed on a roof and took several shots at Trump and rallygoers in Butler. Christopher Wray absurdly claimed it appears Crooks acted alone. So we’re expected to believe Crooks did the following all by himself without an insider’s help: Flew a drone over the Pennsylvania fairgrounds and got aerial footage of the rally layout on the day of the event – including 2 hours before Trump took the stage. Got a range finder through security. Evaded law enforcement officers from several different state, local and federal agencies. Somehow ‘climbed’ up on a roof with his rifle 450 away from Trump, bear crawled to the perfect vantage point as bystanders alerted police and was still able to take 8 shots at Trump. Parked a vehicle full of explosives near the Trump rally – even though there is no online search history of Crooks researching how to make at-home explosives. Crooks was able to walk around the premises after Snipers took a photo of him looking suspicious. A sniper located in the second story window was only 40 feet away from Crooks and didn’t neutralize him. Trump was still able to take the stage after Crooks was pegged as suspicious by Secret Service. GOP Congressman Chip Roy (TX) asked Wray if any FBI agents expressed disappointment that Trump survived the assassination attempt. “In 2015 and 2016 top FBI officials infamously texted about “their insurance policy to make sure Trump was never elected or inaugurated as president,” Chip Roy said referring to Lisa Page and Peter Strzok. “Have any FBI agents texted, emailed or expressed disappointment that Trump survived the assassination attempt or otherwise editorialized about the assassination attempt?” Chip Roy asked Wray. Wray said at least one FBI official has expressed disappointment that Trump wasn’t killed by the gunman. “That individual has been referred to our inspection division,” Wray said. Why wasn’t this person fired? WATCH: Source: thegatewaypundit.com NEW: Thomas Matthew Crooks made nine posts on Gab supporting President Biden, COVID lockdowns, and Biden's border policies, according to Gab Founder Andrew Torba (@BasedTorba). "Im sorry explain to me how trump was ever concerned with what the left wanted, or anybody in the GOP… pic.twitter.com/ZtvfYidC3m — KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) July 24, 2024    If they do “assassinate President Trump,” which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth — If that does not happen, American Leaders will be considered “gutless” cowards! The National Association of Police Organizations Endorses President Trump—to be the 47th POTUS! “Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 1,000 police units and associations and 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers who share a common dedication to fair and effective… pic.twitter.com/rLD2bFroJR — Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) July 25, 2024 Raffensperger’s general counsel is holding evidence hostage from the State Election Board. They can only see the ballot images if they agree to drop the investigation into why there were over 20,000 unsubstantiated votes in both the original and machine recount in 2020 pic.twitter.com/CANnJIGME8 — Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) July 25, 2024   Hackers Bypass Secure Email Gateway With Sophisticated Malware Exploits Hackers often attack Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) to bypass security measures and gain access to private communications. Once they have attacked SEGs, they can snoop on emails, change them or even start a phishing scheme that will spread malware and steal sensitive information from the organizations involved. Cybersecurity researchers at Cofense recently discovered that hackers have been actively attacking and bypassing the SEGs with sophisticated malware exploits. Technical Analysis Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) have a vulnerability that threat actors are actively exploiting by sending them corrupted .zip archives. These archives contain HTML files with .Mpeg extensions that enable obfuscation of harmful content from SEG scans. Source: cybersecuritynews.com  Cyber attack hit smelting at US mine, says Sibanye-Stillwater A CYBER attack earlier this month on Sibanye-Stillwater’s systems hit production at the group’s Stillwater mine in the US resulting in “short term operational delays”. The miner previously said it didn’t know who was behind the attack and that no ransomware had been detected. Cyber attacks on corporates are increasingly common, however. Source: miningmx.com  CrowdStrike says hackers are threatening to leak sensitive information on adversaries The company said some of its information had already been released. The cybersecurity company CrowdStrike said Wednesday evening that some of the company’s private information on the hackers it tracks had been posted online, and that the hacker behind the leak has threatened to release information that’s even more sensitive. Crowdstrike is one of the top cybersecurity companies in the U.S., hunting and monitoring hacker groups in an effort to keep clients’ computer systems safe.  the hacker also claimed to have stolen a list of “Indicators of Compromise,” which include the digital evidence that cybersecurity experts comb through to trace a hacker group’s handiwork. Hackers routinely threaten to leak private files and post samples they claim are evidence, often either exaggerating or lying about what they’ve found. It is unusual, however, for a major cybersecurity company to publicly acknowledge such a claim without refuting it. Source: nbcnews.com BREAKING: North Korean man charged in hackings on U.S. hospitals. pic.twitter.com/AIQVW81Ksl — MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 25, 2024

by Andrew Lowenthal, Activist Post: The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” ― George Orwell, 1984 For years the media, “fact-checkers,” and “anti-disinformation” initiatives told the public there was nothing wrong with Joe Biden. A few weeks ago, in the space of five […]

by Michael Snyder, End Of The American Dream: Ever since Joe Biden dropped out of the race, prominent Republicans have been relentlessly calling for him to resign. They argue that if Biden is unfit to run, he is also unfit to serve. It is hard to argue with that. But getting Biden to resign would […]

from The Gateway Pundit: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

  The medieval capital of the Khmer Empire, commonly known as “Angkor,” is often described in terms of a “lost” city. The general idea is that it was suddenly abandoned in the 1400s, vanished into the jungles of Cambodia, and was eventually “discovered” by an intrepid European explorer in the mid-1800s. However, the notions that Angkor was lost, that it required rediscovery, or indeed that it was hastily abandoned in the first place are simply untrue.   Angkor, City of the God Kings Yasovarman I atop the sacred mountain by Maurice Fievet. Source: Angkor Database Asia   Angkor, located in the northwest of Cambodia near the modern-day city of Siem Reap, is the former seat of the Khmer Empire. This civilization, which arose around the 9th century, for a time, dominated much of mainland Southeast Asia. Yasodharapura, the name the Khmer gave this city, is renowned for its grandiose temples and the development of a sophisticated water management and canal system that supported up to one million residents at its height. The Khmer kings, known as Devaraja, spent centuries on the construction of various “temple mountains,” causeways, and other impressive stone structures to project their power and authority.   Maurice Fievet’s painting of workers constructing Angkor Wat. Source: Angkor Database Asia   However, the golden age in which many of these impressive monuments were built did not last forever. Over a period of centuries, a combination of societal and economic changes produced a transformation in what the Khmer civilization would become. The growing importance of maritime trade with China, as well as the shift from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism, have been pointed to as potential causes. There was also increased military pressure from the powerful rising kingdom that would become Siam. More recently, archaeologists have suggested that climatic changes and the effects of extended periods of drought and flooding were responsible. They claim this may have caused the intricate water management and canal system that supported the city to cease functioning. It is fair to say that some combination of these factors led to an extended period of change for the Khmer civilization. The effect was a depopulation of Angkor and a gravitation southeast toward the banks of the Mekong River. This was in the vicinity of the modern-day capital of Phnom Penh and occurred by the early 1500s.   Angkor: A Jungle Atlantis? Angkor Wat. Source: Wikipedia Commons   Angkor was subjected to successive invasions and periods of administration by the Siamese. There were Khmer campaigns to win back the city over several decades. However, once the center of power had shifted toward Phnom Penh, it would never return to the old capital. Angkor would only be sparsely populated, and with its water management system left inoperable, by around 1560, it ceased to be the city it had once been. The wooden and thatch housing that supported the hundreds and thousands of former inhabitants was eroded by the hot and wet conditions of the region. The stone temples, roads, and walls remained to stand the test of the climate, but the jungle encroached upon it over the subsequent centuries. However, Angkor’s history is not about endless decline and collapse or a city forgotten and then found, but about a continuum of transformation and change.   Despite this, a “lost city” narrative about the old Khmer capital emerged and was popularized after European colonization of the region. This version of the story is still prominent today and will casually be shared in documentaries, news articles, and popular history websites. This romantic version of events carries connotations of Western civilization having found what the native population had naively “lost.” This was also used to legitimize the colonial projects which followed. It is a misleading and patronizing understanding of Khmer history that needs to be challenged. Doing so requires knowledge of how this common trope about Angkor was created and about the transformation the Khmer civilization went through.   Henri Mouhot’s “Discovery” of Angkor Henri Mouhot, drawing by H Rousseau. Source: Wikipedia Commons   The French naturalist Henri Mouhot had been in the kingdom of Cambodia for more than a year by 1859. He had met the king and visited the royal capital of Oudong and the market city of Phnom Penh. He had studied the region’s flora and fauna and hunted big game, like tigers, monkeys, and elephants. At the time, France was engaged in a war to colonize neighboring Vietnam, and Mouhot would write about how, if Cambodia could also be possessed, it would add “a magnificent jewel to her crown.” He felt that Cambodia had fallen into a “deplorable” state, and he worried for the country’s future. However, he also compared the current condition to a glorious past when it was a “powerful and populous country.” The evidence for this, he wrote, “is testified by the splendid ruins which are to be met with in the provinces … and which I intend on visiting.”   The ruins he was planning to visit were the vast complex of stone temples and pyramids of Angkor. Mouhot was taken there in January of 1860 by a French missionary, Abbe E. Silvestre, whom he singled out for thanks in his diary for the courtesy and energy displayed when guiding him through the forest to the destination. The descriptions that Mouhot wrote of what he saw at Angkor do well to capture the overwhelming beauty of what remains of the medieval city. The most praise is given to Angkor Wat, the sprawling temple surrounded by a moat and perhaps the pinnacle of Khmer architecture and design. He describes it as “the most beautiful and best preserved of all the remains … making him forget all the fatigues of the journey, filling him with admiration and delight, such as would be experienced on finding a verdant oasis in the sandy desert.”   Mouhot’s Legacy Sketch of Angkor Wat in Mouhot’s Diary. Source: Angkor Database   Mouhot would die in the year after his expedition to Cambodia and Angkor, succumbing to malaria while exploring Laos. However, the diary he kept on his journeys was translated and published posthumously soon after. It included plenty of detailed descriptions and drawings of Angkor, and these vivid depictions caused a sensation in Europe. Outside of his chapters on Angkor, his diary also represents a valuable source for historians studying pre-modern Cambodia and a snapshot of life in various parts of the country prior to the French Colonial Period, which began in 1863.   Mouhot was imbued with a colonialist spirit and a belief that Western civilization could cure Cambodia’s problems. He was a man of his time, but his diary does illustrate someone passionate about his explorations. His writings reveal a genuine curiosity and desire to learn more, albeit mixed with derisory comments common to the time. In his own words, he stated that it was not his desire to impose his opinions on anyone, but “simply to disclose the existence of these monuments.” His writings also show that he himself didn’t think the Khmer had lost these ruins, noting how important they were to locals. His diary also contains no claims or suggestions that he had “discovered” Angkor. However, this legend spread after his death, stuck, and has been repeated to the present day.   European Claims of Angkor’s Discovery Another sketch of Angkor Wat by Mouhot. Source: Angkor Database   Refuting the idea that Angkor was “rediscovered” in this era by Europeans is more than just an example of historical nitpicking. Even from a Eurocentric viewpoint, the story that emphasizes Mouhot’s being given the sole credit for “discovering” Angkor is clearly false. While his work played a crucial role in bringing knowledge of the city to a Western audience, this does not necessitate his being viewed as having “rediscovered” the medieval city. From the diary he kept, notice that he had been told months prior about the “splendid ruins” that he would visit, meaning he didn’t find them by accident. Likewise, he was guided there by a missionary familiar with their location. These facts indicate that the temple complex was a known quantity even to foreigners in the country and contradict any idea that Mouhot found Angkor single handedly or through his own exploration.   Similarly, claiming that it was Mouhot who, from a Western point of view, “found Angkor” ignores the many Westerners who had visited Angkor before him. Aside from the French missionaries who had been established in the region for decades, the Portuguese friar Antonio Da Magdalena can stake a claim to being the first European who visited the temple in the late 1500s. There was also interest in the site from non-European travellers in Asia and the regions surrounding Cambodia. Japanese pilgrims had sketched the layout of Angkor Wat, which had become a kind of pilgrimage site for Buddhists.   Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat today. Source: Wikipedia Commons   The idea that Mouhot “discovered” Angkor would be the modern equivalent of a social media influencer “discovering” a restaurant while on holiday in some exotic location. The restaurant was already being used regularly by locals or those visiting but not looking to share their experience with millions of people online. A more accurate term would be “popularized,” which would require the caveat of being popularized among a particular overseas audience. Little would change for the regular patrons. But this clearly highlights the problem at the heart of saying that Angkor was “discovered” or “rediscovered” at all — it ignores local populations and the civilization that had built it in the first place.   Angkor’s Lost City Myth Angkor Wat from above. Source: Wikipedia Commons   Perhaps the most critical challenge to the idea that Angkor was “rediscovered” by Europeans is the fact that the Khmer themselves had never lost their old capital city. As established, the city was subjected to numerous invasions and the slow collapse of the water management system that supported most of its population. While it is true that over a period of centuries it was depopulated and ceased to be a functioning, living city, this does not mean that it was suddenly abandoned in some cataclysmic event and then forgotten. The city and area of Angkor were used as a staging ground for Khmer military campaigns against Siam and, therefore, remained important. Recent archaeological work also provides evidence from ceramic finds that the greater Angkor region was in continuous habitation after the supposed collapse of the city.   Also, remember that Angkor Wat, separate to the larger city, was never ‘abandoned’ and remained in use by religious adherents. It was and is a fundamental cultural feature of the Khmer civilization, even in the wake of the shift away from using the area as the capital city. Khmer folklore tells the story of a king who returned to Angkor within a century of its supposed abandonment. Inscriptions on Angkor Wat and partial restorations of it and other temples confirm this reconnection of power and authority with the site. Subsequently, there were frequent expeditions made by various royal families to Angkor Wat as further inscriptions and renovations were made in the late 16th and 18th centuries. When French colonial archaeological and conservation efforts were undertaken in the 19th century, there were still monks living within the perimeter of Angkor Wat.   All of this proves that Angkor Wat, specifically, and the greater region of Angkor generally, should not be considered in the simplistic terms of a “lost city.” Cataclysmic sudden collapse or destruction never occurred, the area was known to Khmer royalty and remained inhabited by local populations, and temples like Angkor Wat were maintained and inhabited physically and spiritually by adherents.   Dispelling the Angkor Myths: Why It Matters The faces of the Bayon Temple. Source: Wikipedia Commons   Perpetuating the idea that Angkor or other similar locations were lost imposes a Western-centric and simplistic view of history. Aside from it being proven false and indulging in tropes more appropriate for the realm of fiction, it legitimizes colonialist visions of the world that are far outdated. The Khmer civilization did not disappear; their empire underwent changes and transformations over many centuries. This process is not as exciting as the clichéd idea of the lost city myth, but it is the historical reality. Today, perpetuating the French colonial myth of “discovering” Angkor is unlikely done knowingly or with ill intent. Instead, it persists via an ignorance of history, a willingness to lean on catchy headlines, or a reliance on poor sources.   Sources and Further Reading   David Chandler, A History of Cambodia, 2008. Henri Mouhot, Travels in the Central Parts of Indochina, Siam, Cambodia and Laos, 1858-1860. Volume I and II, 1864. The Virtual Angkor Project, Monash University (https://www.virtualangkor.com/) University of Oregon Southeast Asia Archaeology Lab Blog (By Dr Allison Carter https://blogs.uoregon.edu/acarter4/) The Greater Angkor Project, University of Sydney (https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2015/12/09/new-discoveries-redefine-angkor-wat-s-history.html) In the Shadows of Utopia Podcast (www.shadowsofutopia.com)

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