History

That we today call Thailand origins from smaller countries. The earleast country from 200 BC was Suvarabhumi who laid in central Thailand and which was shaped by people of Indian origin. This was realsesed in 6 th to 11 th century by Dvaraavati and the Monpeople who had origins in todays west Thailand. Dvaraavati wa also an coalition by kingdoms in Burma.

By the early 1200s, the Thais had established small northern city states in Lanna, Phayao, and Sukhothai. In 1238, two Tai chieftains rebelled against Khmer suzerainty and established the fully independent Thai kingdom in Sukhothai (literally, 'Dawn of Happiness').

Sukhothai Period(1238-1438)

Sukhothai was the first Thai kingdom. It was founded in 1238 by two Thai governors, Khun Bang Klang Thao (Sri Inthrathit) and Khun Pha Muang who rebelled against the Khmers; and gave independence to the region. Sukhothai period was the most flourishing period of Thailand. It gained independence in 1238 and quickly expanded its boundary of influence. Sukhothai period was considered to be a golden age of Thai culture.

Ayutthaya Period(1351-1767)

Ayutthaya, the capital of the Thai Kingdom was found by U-Thong King in 1350. Ayutthaya as an island is formed by the gathering of three rivers, the Chao Phraya, the Pasak, and the Loburi and surrounded by rice terraces. It is easy to see why the Ayutthaya area was settled prior to this date since the site offered a variety of geographical and economic advantages. The Thai kings of Ayutthaya became powerful in the 14th and 15th centuries, taking over U-Thong, Lopburi, and Ayutthaya.

King U-Thong and his immediate successors expanded Ayutthaya's territory, especially northward towards Sukhothai and eastward towards the Khmer capital of Angkor. The greater size of government could not remain the same as during the days of King Ramkhamhaeng. The society during the Ayutthaya period was strictly hierarchical. There were, roughly, three classes of people king at the top of scale. At the bottom of social scale were commoners and the slaves.

Thonburi Period(1767-1782)

After the fall of Ayudthaya, General Taksin, a general of Aydthaya, drafted an army of patriots to take revenge for his country. He successfully chased away the Burmese troops. After the Burmese were gone, he decided to build a new capital along the Chaopraya river and named it "Thonburi". King Taksin has reined a peaceful country for over 15 years and extended diplomatic relationship with many countries from overseas including China. Unfortunately, King Taksin, who devoted his life to protect his beloved country, was over stressed from the wars and eventually became insane. Thonburi was collapsed because of the coup in 1782 by General Chakri. King Taksin's achievements have caused prosperity to bestow on him the epithet "the Great".

Rattanakosin Period (1782-Present)

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 Thonburi to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809-1824) continued the restoration begun by his predecessor.

Two Chakri monarchs, Mongkut (Rama IV) who reigned between 1851 - 1868, and his son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868 -1910) saved Thailand from western colonization through adroit diplomacy and selective modernization.

Today, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings, including the present monarch, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, have exercised their legislative powers through the national assembly, their executive powers through a cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, and their judicial powers through the courts of la.

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict.

Thailand began welcoming foreign visitors centuries ago, when Asian traders, followed by shiploads of Portuguese, Dutch, British and French merchants and their crews, first arrived. This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts around 13.38 million tourists and businesspeople will fly to Bangkok from all points of the globe. That’s almost twice the number of a decade ago.

Over 60% of Thailand’s tourists come from Asia, While Europe accounts for around 24%. The Americas contributes just 6%, a share that has been dwindling since 1980. Thailand’s southern neighbour, Malaysia, recently passed Japan as the largest source for international arrivals, Other key markets include Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.

The average stay in Thailand in 2004 was eight days, with around three being spent in Bangkok. According to TAT Statistics, average per capita spending in about B4, 150 (US$106) per day, with Saudi Arabians as the biggest spenders at B5,338. The Japanese are the largest contributors, bringing in over B29 billion of last year’s total of B384 billion. MICE visitors spend twice that of leisure tourists, and account for 15%-17% of all Bangkok arrivals. According to the TAT, the MICE sector delivered B34 billion in 2003, a 24 % increase over 2002.

Foreign arrivals are expected to start landing at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport (soo-wan-na-poom) before the end of 2005. Construction began in 2002 to replace the overloaded and un-expandable Don Muang Airport, the world’s 22nd busiest airport serving some 60 international carriers. Two runways, capable of handling 76 flights per hour and 45 million passengers a year, will feed the new airport’s 51 gates and 69 remote bays.

Thailands foreign politic have always been to quickly adapt the new situations. In ASEAN (Association of South East Asians Nations) which was founded in 1967 the purpose was to be an economic organizations such as European Union (EU) in Europe. But the economic cooperation had been almost zero.

After the war in Korea the anticommunist defendalliance SEATO (Southest Asia Treaty Organization) was founded. The alliance made a front against the communist states in Indochina which became specially important after Vietnams invasion of Kampuchea in 1979. The red khmers was then forced against and over the thai border. Thailand then been forced to strengthen its defence because vietnamees troops attacked the khmers camps inside the thai border.

Then chinese weapon and other support from ASEAN-lcountries was sent through Thailand to the antivietnameese guerillagroups against the border since they lost all their bases inside Kampuchea, when they was forced away by the vietnameese.

Since the vietnameese had drawn back their forces and Kampuchea was going against democracy Thailand prime minister Chatichai in 1988 changed the strategy to instead transform the battlefield to a marketplace with extended business against the indochina countries. This policy became popular among thai businessmen who travels a lot to Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea.