We are not Lesser Beings

In the Discovery Asia series "Lost Cities of the Jungle", 2 western archeologists explored the surrounding areas of Angkor Wat. Their digital team visualised and mapped out the animations, based on available data: local weather conditions, surrounding economic activities, excavated items,  the architecture and stone carvings on the temples.

Their quest started from the notion/ question: "Why did the Khmer people build an isolated temple very deep into the jungle?" Apparently they didn't. (Then/ At that moment in history) there was a network of roads and towns that led to the temple, now overgrown/ overtaken by nature.

King Jayavarman II (who reportedly was from Java) proclaimed godlike powers and ruled over the Khmer people around that time. As a leader, he coordinated the constructions and established authority over at least a million  subjects (a rough estimate based on the size of the cities and agricultural + economic activities surrounding Angkor Wat).

My additional questions: 

- Why did the empire not grow, but died? Similar to the Aztecs

- Who succeeded Jayavarman II? Did he have a succession plan?

At its height, this city + Angkor Wat was bigger than any western city which existed around that time.

In Malaysia we had the historical ruins of Lembah Bujang in Kedah, which is said to be one of the earliest civilisations around 6 AD during the time when Western Roman Empire was at its downfall (according to Wikipedia). This civilisation is a full-blown town/ city that welcomed traders geographically guided by the landmark of Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai).

There is some anecdotal evidence that before North America was colonised by the Spanish and British, the Chinese were there (there is a controversial book titled 1421 by Gavin Menzies about this). However the Chinese left little impact on the community: basically they arrived, discovered and eventually left. As opposed to the Spanish/ British approach of "I came I saw I conquered".

The above information, in my view, shows the greatness of Asians. We were capable people who ran empires way before our Western masters. The colonisation of Africa and Asia particularly by the Spanish/ Dutch/ French/ British (in some cases for far too long) probably made us feel that we are lesser beings put on earth to serve our masters. We were not.

Many years on, we may still believe that the light-skinned folks are superior. They are not. They're just raised to believe that. Like we were conditioned to believe that we are less able.

Incidentally our Malaccan prince Parameswara was from Majapahit Indonesia. Indonesians may have been one of the early explorers from Southeast Asia. Yet we (Malaysians) have poor opinions of them due to many years of unskilled labour supplies.

My point is: We have achieved great things (granted, these were in the past). Unfortunately we have been conditioned by centuries of history to believe otherwise. It is time to rebuild our confidence and be the very best beings we can be.