In the 1290s, severe droughts impacted Southeast Asia, including the Khmer Empire, disrupting rice cultivation and contributing to societal stress. These climatic challenges coincided with political changes. Such events highlight environmental influences on historical trajectories, often memorialized in regional chronicles and poetic laments.

The droughts in Southeast Asia during the 1290s contributed to decline narratives in regional chronicles and poetry. Poets of the time captured the struggles of communities facing environmental challenges, using their verses to reflect on the fragility of life and the impact of climate on society.