History of Thailand

Thailand’s history begins with the Thai people emigrating from South China heading south-east around 900 A.D. The area that is now Thailand was ruled by different kingdoms that were comprised of the Mon, Khmer and the Malay people. The influence of the surrounding areas is most visible in the Hindu and Buddhist religions that the Thai people brought with them. Thailand’s reckoning of time starts in the year 543 B.C - The death of Buddha.
The first state was ruled from the city of Sukhothai, later Ayutthaya and finally Bangkok. The Thai state was under continual attacks from outsiders, the Mon, the Burmese, the Khmer and the Vietnamese. During the western countries’ colonization of the world in the 19th century Thailand was also attacked by European colonial powers. Thailand was the only country in Asia that managed to stay independent. But in the process Thailand had to concede huge areas in what is today Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
Thailand’s history is divided into different periods according to where the power was located at the time:

The Sukhothai period (1238-1365)
The foundation of Thailand is recognized to be in the 13th century when two leaders declared their independence from the Khmer empire in 1238 and founded the first kingdom in Sukhothai, with Pho Khun Si Indrathit as King. During this period there existed several other smaller kingdoms in Thailand.

The Ayutthaya period (1365-1767)
The kingdom of Sukhothai fell in 1365 when the kingdom of Ayutthaya, aka Siam, became the dominating power in southern and central Thailand until the 18th century. This kingdom expanded its area towards the south and the west. The first king of Ayutthaya was king Ramathibodi. In 1767 the Burmese invaded the kingdom and the royal family was forced to flee. This ended the royal lineage.
During this period Thailand started trading more and more with the west. This eventually led to King Narai closing the country to westerners. This lasted for almost 150 years. The main reason for closing the country was probably because of the western missionaries trying to convert the Siamese Buddhists to Christianity.

The Thonburi period (1767-1782)
King Taksin managed to unite the Thais in a new kingdom governed from Thonburi. King Taksin was later declared insane, then disposed, imprisoned and executed. General Chakri seized control and became Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty. He moved the capital across the Chao Phraya river to Bangkok.

The Bangkok period (1782-  )
The Burmese were thrown out of Siam in the 1790s. Great Britain seized Burma in 1826, and the Thais again felt the threat of colonization. Thailand made peace and trade agreements and kept diplomatic contact with the countries of the west.
During the 20th century the kingdom became wealthier and wealthier, and Bangkok developed into an important centre for commerce. The tension between the King and the ever more influential elite grew. A coup in 1932 ended the autocracy and a constitutional monarchy was introduced. (source www and wikipedia)

More information on recent Thai history is coming

Culture and society

How you meet a new culture and its people are critical for what impressions and opinions you are left with after a visit. By learning a little about other cultures you arrive more prepared and more curious and it will be more exciting than “scary” to stumble into cultural situations.
You can read more about what you should and shouldn’t do in meeting a new culture.