Early
Thailand:
Thailand or Siam as it was formerly known is identified as being
one of the important bases of ancient civilization in Southeast
Asia. Evidence of early inhabitance dating back thousands of
years have been found in a number of archaeological sites in
the country such as at the Ban Chiang Site in Udon Thani Province
. Documented Thai history however begins with the advent of the
Dvaravati Kingdom which was the first stable form of government
in the region occupying central Thailand. This kingdom was started
by the Mon People whose culture was influenced by that of the
Khmer people. This resulted in the spread of the Buddhism religion,
Khmer art and culture in the empire. The Dvaravati Kingdom lasted
between the 9th and 11th centuries.
The Sukhothai Kingdom:
The foundations for modern Thailand were laid during the Sukhothai
Kingdom which was established around 1238. Sukhothai City and
Province were under the Khmer Empire during this time. The
city was seized by two local Thai Governors who declared self-independence
with one of the Governors Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao becoming
the
empire’s first King. This was an important period in
the development of indigenous Thai Culture including the first
writing
of the Thai Alphabet. With the advent of the more powerful
Ayutthaya Empire, Sukhothai was gradually reduced in its standing
and by
1438 it had become an administrative division in the Ayutthaya
Kingdom.
