68 distribution center for these commodities was the current Angkor capital and its vicinity. A large number of Khmer people resided in the Angkor area, besides Chinese, Indians, Thais, Mons, Burmese, Chams, mountain minority groups, and others, and it was one of the largest international cities of that time. People and commodities were conveyed by ox cart caravans to the Angkor capital, and imported goods from the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea were conveyed to Angkor. Maritime traders also arrived mounted on elephants, and there were at the same time ox cart caravans in the vicinity of famous temples. In addition, members of the royalty, ministers, and high-ranking officials went about mounted on elephants to famous temples located in a variety of places, and lavish gifts were donated to the temples. Prior to Angkor Wat the population of the Angkor capital city is estimated to have been around 200,000, but this is a hypothesis. With the commencement of the construction of Angkor Wat the number of workers and their family members grew, and hence it is said to have risen to around 400,000 people. This is an estimate based on historical demography. Without a population of about 400,000, Angkor Wat could not have been erected in 35 years. At that time, it is said to have been the fourth largest city in the world, the first being the current southern Spanish city of Córdoba with around 620,000 people, and the second being Constantinople in present-day Turkey with about 550,000 people. The third was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) in China, which at its opening had about 420,000 people. This at any rate is just an assessment of the population. In the center of the main road lies Angkor Wat, towering in gold. The height of the central shrine is 65 meters, and many people pay visits just to have a glimpse of the great spire. It is said that this temple scenery resembles that of the Pure Land Sukhavati, which is as yet unseen by humans. The main shrine and corridor enhanced the religious faith of the many villagers and worshipers, and granted them a sense of
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