They Built a Maritime Empire That Traded With Rome Then the Jungle Swallowed It Whole

Funan was a sophisticated maritime empire in the Mekong Delta (1st–6th century CE) that served as a vital trade link between Rome, India, and China. Known for its advanced hydraulic engineering and cosmopolitan culture, it eventually faded due to shifting trade routes and environmental changes, leaving a legacy largely absorbed by the later Khmer Empire.