History Of Thailand

Siam The Land of a Thousand Smiles

Thailand was known as Siam until the name was changed in 1949.

Archaeological discoveries around the north- east Ban Chiang suggest that the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization was developing in Thailand some 5,600 years ago. The history of Thailand begins with the migration of the Thais from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland Southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms ruled the region.

 The Mons, Khmers and Thais, gradually entered this land by traveling along the large fertile rivers from southern China. By the 11th and 12th centuries, Khmers ruled much of the area from Angkor during the 11^th to 12^th century. Around this time the Thais had established northern city states in Lanna, Phayao and Sukhothai.

And in 1238, rebelled against Khmer and established the first independent Thai kingdom in Sukhothai, which means “Dawn of Happiness”.  From Sukhothai the Thai people expanded their positions along the Chao Phraya River. And the Kingdom began to grow and prosper. At this time Buddhism also grew and became the religion of Thailand. The Thai alphabet and Thai art forms, including painting, sculpture, architecture and literature also trace their routes to this period in Thai history. Sukhothai declined during the 1300s and a new capital of Thailand came to be.

 Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya on the banks of the Chao Phraya River was the Thai capital until 1767 when it was destroyed by Burmese. During Ayutthaya's 417 years as the capital.

 Burmese were expelled from Ayutthaya by King Taksin who later made Thon Buri his capital. In 1782, the first king of the present Chakri dynasty, Rama I, established his new capital at Bangkok.

 When most of Asia was being colonize by the west, King Mongkut (Rama IV) (1851-1868), and his son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, (1868-1910) saved Thailand from this fate.  Rama V was a true International leader and through diplomacy and modernization kept Thailand the only country in Asia never to be colonized. Today, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings including the present monarch, H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej have exercised their legislative powers through a national assembly, their executive powers through a cabinet headed by a prime minister, and their judicial powers through the law courts.