THAI HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy occupying and area of 513,115 sq km (slightly larger than Spain) in Southeast Asia. Of its population of 65 million, the majority are Thais and the largest minority group is Chinese, who have mostly been assimilated through inter-marriage and long- time residence.
The origin of the Thai race is still unclear today. Some believe they have migrated from southwestern China, others say they have lived in the border areas between China,Loas,Burma and Thailand for at least 2,000 yaers, and still others suggest that they originated in what is today’s Thailand and then moved northwards
Anyway, it was recorded in history that two Thai chieftains,Khun Bang Klang Hao and Khun Pha Muang, established the first independent Thai Kingdom in Sukhothai in 1238 after driving away the Khmers who had ruled this region in the 11th and 12th centuries.
The Sukhothai Period (1238-1438) During the Sukhothai period, the Thai people lived in peace, stability and prosperity, and the Kingdom enjoyed close, friendly relation with neighbouring countries, including China. Art were developed and Buddism was firmly established as the state religion.
In the late 14th century, Sukhothai began to decline adn them became a vassal state of the rising Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1378. It was completely absorbed by Ayudtthaya im 1438.
The Ayutthaya Period(1350-1767) Ayutthaya was the capital of the second Thai Kingdom ruled by 33 successive kings. Because of its ideal location, Ayutthaya had a well-developed agriculture and did a thriving trade with foreign countries both in the East and the West. The city was beautified by glittering palaces, ornately designed temples and gold-plated pagodas and was recognized as a major metropolis of the world during the reign of King Narai the Great (1656-1688).
Ayutthaya lasted as a capital for 417 years from 1350 to 1767. Many times it had to Fight with invading neighbouring countries, not ably Burma (today’s Myanmar). After 1758, Ayutthaya was in disarray because of the royal family, which resulted in its surrender to Burmese in April 1767.
The Thon Buri Period (1767-1782 )Seven months later,Praya Taksin, who had served in the army of the last king of ayutthaya,succeeded in expelling the Burmerse and re-establishing Thai sovereignthy.Since the old capital was ransacked and totally ruined by the invaders, King taksin decided to move the capital to Thon Buri,today a part of Bangkok on the West bank of the Chao Praya River.
During his 15-year rule, Taksin the Greate restored the religion, arts and literature and extended the territory of this kingdom to Loas and Cambodia.
On King Taksin’s death in 1782, his general and friend Chao praya Maha Kasatsuk ascended the throne and was known as King Buddha Yodfa of Rama I. He moved the capital to Bangkok on the opposite side of the river and established the Chakri Dynasty.
The Rattanakosin Period(1782-present) During the early part of the Chakri Dynasty, arts,culture and literature were in full bloom. Relation with the Western countries were restored
By King Rama III. In the reigns of Rama IV and Rama V, Western culture was introduced to Thai society, leading to its modernization.
But Thailand also lost large pieces of its territory during this period due to the expansion of Western colonialism.Yet the Thais pride themselves on their ability to maintain independence while all their neighbours were reduced to the status of a colony one after the other. In 1932, a group of foreign-educated military officers and student staged a peaceful revolution and Thailand changed its political system from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy witch has remained up to this day.
Although the Thais have always referred to their country as Muang Thai or Prathet Thai, meaning the Land of the Free, The country had been known to the outside world as Siam Until 1949, when the Thai government formally adopted Thailand as the official name of the country.
After that Siam and Siamese became historical terms. The present monarch, King Bhumipol Adulyadej, remains the stabilizing element of the country and is generally recognized as one of the most beloved rulers in Thai history.
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