What allowed the Khmer kingdom to became great?

A. Ability to produce excess rice and export it
B. Abundant mineral resources
C. Technological advances
D. Ability to conquer other lands

I have a hard time with this question. Either A or D?

http://www.historytoday.com/historical-dictionary/k/khmer-empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire

Read widely, including any relevant links on these pages. Let us know what you discover.

It mentions conquering then the wealth from the rice they would go so I'm going with D.

To determine the correct answer to this question, we can evaluate each option and eliminate the incorrect ones based on historical knowledge. Let's break down each option:

A. Ability to produce excess rice and export it: This option refers to the economic strength of the Khmer kingdom. Historically, the Khmer Empire was able to achieve agricultural success by developing advanced irrigation systems and cultivating rice, which allowed for surplus production. Exporting this surplus rice to neighboring regions could have potentially boosted the economy and contributed to the kingdom's growth.

B. Abundant mineral resources: Though mineral resources can contribute to a kingdom's wealth and economic prosperity, there is no strong historical evidence indicating that the Khmer kingdom had significant mineral resources. Therefore, we can eliminate this option.

C. Technological advances: Technological advances can play a crucial role in the development of a kingdom, but there was no specific mention of any substantial technological advances associated with the Khmer kingdom in this question. Hence, we can eliminate this option as well.

D. Ability to conquer other lands: Throughout history, conquering and assimilating neighboring lands has been a common path to expand and strengthen kingdoms and empires. The Khmer Empire was known to conquer neighboring regions and grow in size and power. This option aligns with historical evidence and the significance of the Khmer kingdom.

Based on this assessment, the correct answer to the question "What allowed the Khmer kingdom to become great?" would be:

D. Ability to conquer other lands.