Ancient History
This small country called Thailand was discover in 1238. Very little is know about the first inhabitants of what is now Thailand.However their are tribal groups that used to control what is now called Thailand. The Mon and Khmer people established powerful kingdoms this included large areas of the country. Later on the Thai people took over. In and around the 10th to 14th century Southern Thailand is ruled by the mainly Mon Lavo Kingdom, but with growing influence from the Khmer neighbouring Empire (modern-day Cambodia). The Tai people the antecedents of modern ethnic Thais started to move southwards into the area.
In 1238, near the end of the Dali Kingdom, the first big Thai kingdom called Sukhothai was established in Northern Thailand. It is thought that the kingdom was strengthened by the migration of Dali people when their kingdom was attacked in 1253. Then in 1350, King Ramathibodi founded the Ayutthaya Kingdom at a location about 50 kilometres from Bangkok. The empire became powerful and rich, and they subjugated the Kingdom of Sukhothai to the north in 1378. During the 1400s, the empire expanded and defeated Angkor. Thai settlements spread in the region, but they were not able to conquer the Malays or the Burmese. Instead, the Burmese attacked them. Also during the years 1238 to 1448 the Thai speaking Sukhothai kingdom expands its rule further south, coming to dominate much of modern-day Thailand, before being eclipsed by a rival Thai kingdom in the south, Ayutthaya.
In and around the 1590s to the 1605 was the Reign of Naresuan. Seen as Ayutthaya's greatest king, he ends a period of Burmese overlordship and briefly conquers Cambodia and parts of southern Burma.In 1568, the Burmese took the city of Ayutthaya. King Naresuan recaptured it. But it fell again. After this time, the Qing Empire started to try to expand their control southwards at the same time that Europeans arrived in the area. In the centuries afterwards, the Thai rulers succeeded in keeping Thailand unconquered by either the Qing or the Europeans. They traded with the Europeans and learned from them and modernized. In and around the 1590s to the 1605 was the Reign of Naresuan. Seen as Ayutthaya's greatest king, he ends a period of Burmese overlordship and briefly conquers Cambodia and parts of southern Burma.
In the year 1776, the Ayutthaya kingdom was invaded and demolished by the Burmese army, but who only cntrolled central Thailand for two years before being defeated by the Siamese leader, General Taskin. It was only shortly after the Taskin had gone mad, and was replaced by Rama I; the founder of the Chakri dynasty, which continues to rule over Thailand today. The capital of Thailand became marked as Bangkok in this era.
During the 19th Century, European colonialism began taking control of most areas near Southeast and Southern Asia; Burma and Malaysia became British, while Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were claimed by the French shortly after. Soon after 1945's attacks on Japan, the Thais realized they must return the land they had gained to the British and the French, as their treatment of Thailand was that of a defeated nation.
King Bhumibol Aulyadej, who came to monarchy in 1946 after the death of his brother, is still the current leader of Thailand today. However, power has been constantly been changing possession from civilians to military since 1973.
This small country called Thailand was discover in 1238. Very little is know about the first inhabitants of what is now Thailand.However their are tribal groups that used to control what is now called Thailand. The Mon and Khmer people established powerful kingdoms this included large areas of the country. Later on the Thai people took over. In and around the 10th to 14th century Southern Thailand is ruled by the mainly Mon Lavo Kingdom, but with growing influence from the Khmer neighbouring Empire (modern-day Cambodia). The Tai people the antecedents of modern ethnic Thais started to move southwards into the area.
In 1238, near the end of the Dali Kingdom, the first big Thai kingdom called Sukhothai was established in Northern Thailand. It is thought that the kingdom was strengthened by the migration of Dali people when their kingdom was attacked in 1253. Then in 1350, King Ramathibodi founded the Ayutthaya Kingdom at a location about 50 kilometres from Bangkok. The empire became powerful and rich, and they subjugated the Kingdom of Sukhothai to the north in 1378. During the 1400s, the empire expanded and defeated Angkor. Thai settlements spread in the region, but they were not able to conquer the Malays or the Burmese. Instead, the Burmese attacked them. Also during the years 1238 to 1448 the Thai speaking Sukhothai kingdom expands its rule further south, coming to dominate much of modern-day Thailand, before being eclipsed by a rival Thai kingdom in the south, Ayutthaya.
In and around the 1590s to the 1605 was the Reign of Naresuan. Seen as Ayutthaya's greatest king, he ends a period of Burmese overlordship and briefly conquers Cambodia and parts of southern Burma.In 1568, the Burmese took the city of Ayutthaya. King Naresuan recaptured it. But it fell again. After this time, the Qing Empire started to try to expand their control southwards at the same time that Europeans arrived in the area. In the centuries afterwards, the Thai rulers succeeded in keeping Thailand unconquered by either the Qing or the Europeans. They traded with the Europeans and learned from them and modernized. In and around the 1590s to the 1605 was the Reign of Naresuan. Seen as Ayutthaya's greatest king, he ends a period of Burmese overlordship and briefly conquers Cambodia and parts of southern Burma.
In the year 1776, the Ayutthaya kingdom was invaded and demolished by the Burmese army, but who only cntrolled central Thailand for two years before being defeated by the Siamese leader, General Taskin. It was only shortly after the Taskin had gone mad, and was replaced by Rama I; the founder of the Chakri dynasty, which continues to rule over Thailand today. The capital of Thailand became marked as Bangkok in this era.
During the 19th Century, European colonialism began taking control of most areas near Southeast and Southern Asia; Burma and Malaysia became British, while Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were claimed by the French shortly after. Soon after 1945's attacks on Japan, the Thais realized they must return the land they had gained to the British and the French, as their treatment of Thailand was that of a defeated nation.
King Bhumibol Aulyadej, who came to monarchy in 1946 after the death of his brother, is still the current leader of Thailand today. However, power has been constantly been changing possession from civilians to military since 1973.