Throughout
Cambodia's long history, religion has been a major source of cultural inspiration. Over nearly two millennia, Cambodians have developed a unique
Khmer belief from the
syncreticism of indigenous
animistic beliefs and the Indian religions of
Buddhism and
Hinduism. Indian culture and civilization, including its languages and arts reached mainland
Southeast Asia around the 1st century AD. It is generally believed that seafaring merchants brought Indian customs and culture to ports along the Gulf of
Thailand and the Pacific en route to trade with
China. The
Kingdom of Funan was most probably the first Khmer state to benefit from this influx of Indian ideas.