Mon

Refers to the culture and former empire that flourished from the 9th to the 11th and from the 13th to the 16th centuries. It is centralized in the eastern delta region of modern Myanmar and in the west-central region of Thailand. The culture has dominated the region for the last 1,200 years, replacing Sanskrit with Pali writing and introducing Theravada Buddhism to the ancient Burmese culture. Art of this region has shared historical ties with the ancient Cambodian kingdom of Funan, and with China, and was heavily influenced by the Angkor civilization.