History of Thailand - culture and background country
Thailand means "land of the free", and throughout its
800-year history, Thailand can boast the distinction of being the
only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized. Its
history is divided into five major periods :
The Thai people founded their kingdom in the southern part of China,
which is Yunnan, Kwangsi and Canton today. A great number of people
migrated south as far as the Chao Phraya Basin and settled down
over the Central Plain under the sovereignty of the Khmer Empire,
whose culture they probably accepted. The Thai people founded their
independent state of Sukhothai around 1238 A.D., which marks the
beginning of the Sukhothai Period.
Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region in the13th
century, gradually asserting independence from existing Khmer and
Mon kingdoms. Called by its rulers "the dawn of happiness",
this is often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal
Thai state in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent
kings, the most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great. However
in 1350, the mightier state of Ayutthaya exerted its influence over
Sukhothai.
 The
Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very
beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the
kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute
monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king). The early part
of this period saw Ayutthaya extend its sovereignty over neighboring
Thai principalities and come into conflict with its neighbours,
During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial
relations with western countries.
In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya. Despite
their overwhelming victory, the Burmese did not retain control of
Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin and his followers
broke through the Burmese encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi.
Seven months after the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces sailed
back to the capital and expelled the Burmese occupation garrison.
General Taksin, as he is popularly known, decided to transfer the
capital from Ayutthaya to a site nearer to the sea which would facilitate
foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make defence
and withdrawal easier in case of a renewed Burmese attack. He established
his new capital at Thon Buri on the west bank of the Chao Phraya
River.
The rule of Taksin was not an easy one. The lack of central authority
since the fall of Ayutthaya led to the rapid disintegration of the
kingdom, and Taksin's reign was spent reuniting the provinces.
 After
Taksin's death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri
Dynasty, Rama I, ruling from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king
was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri
to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809-1824) continued
the restoration begun by his predecessor. King Nang Klao, Rama III
(1824-1851) reopened relations with Western nations and developed
trade with China. King Mongkut, Rama IV, (1851-1868) of "The
King and I" concluded treaties with European countries, avoided
colonialisation and established modern Thailand. He made many social
and economic reforms during his reign .
King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1869-1910) continued his father's tradition
of reform, abolishing slavery and improving the public welfare and
administrative system. Compulsory education and other educational
reforms were introduced by King Vajiravudh, Rama VI (1910-1925).
During the reign of King Prajadhipok, (1925-1935), Thailand changed
from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The king
abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his nephew, King Ananda Mahidol
(1935-1946). The country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand
with the advent of a democratic government in 1939.
Our present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is King Rama IX of
the Chakri Dynasty.
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