Thailand The Land, History & Culture

By Mark Robinson

This is THE guide to understanding Thai culture and history!

Come and explore the most visited tourist destination in the world!

This is a great book if you ever wanted to learn more about Thailand!

Understand and Respect Thai Culture

Learn the history of the Thai people and what has made them the proud nation they are today. Understand and speak basic everyday phrases in the Thai Language. Learn about the people and the clothing as well as key facts about the country; currency, flag, National Anthem, driving, climate, banking, communication and the delicious Thai dishes. What is the role of family within the Thai culture and the hierarchy of the members? Why is "saving face" such an integral part of Thai society?

Learn Geographical Regions Of Thailand

Follow us as we travel through the many regions of Thailand. Taking temporary stops on our journey to learn small details about each diverse location.You will get an overview of different cities within these 5 main regions. Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, North Eastern Thailand, Southern Golf Coast, and The Andaman Coast.

Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck In Bangkok, Thailand

The vital key to enjoying your trip to Thailand is to be provided with useful information before you even get there. Key points are given that you should understand before you get on the plane. You have saved enough to make it here; now that your here let's make the money stretch as long as possible. Learn how to do Bangkok on a budget!

Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Places of interest in Bangkok!
Top 10 Places to visit off the beaten path!
Top 10 places to visit in Thailand!
Top 10 - Thailand's Best Beaches!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Robinson
• Release date: Apr 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9780992144517

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Thailand is located in South East Asia and has a western border with Burma (or Myanmar) and a north eastern border with Laos. In the southern region of the country, near Phuket, is a border with Malaysia. The country has a long coastline, which along the west of the country is bordering on the Andaman Sea.

Travelers have been packing their bags and heading to Thailand in droves. The country’s capital city — Bangkok — is now the most visited city in the world by international tourists. There are plenty of authentic, charming, old-world places in Thailand. The country is stunningly beautiful; on the whole the people are very pleasant and you can travel and live extremely cheaply. The food is spectacular and the scenery is astonishing, but for many, the draw of Thailand has become the Thai people. They are what make the long plane trip worth-while and their approach to life, friendliness and calmness are really appealing.

Thailand is known by two names; the Land of the Free and the Land of Smiles. The first stems from pride in the fact that Thailand is the only country in South East Asia never colonized by a European power. The second refers to the friendly, happy-go-lucky and cheerful nature of its people. They say that you can smile at any Thai you pass by on the street and that person will most likely smile back at you.

In the book Thailand: The Land, History & Culture, I explore the worlds' fascination with Thailand. This book gives a broad overview of Thailand, exploring topics ranging from its history, food, land, and people. Each topic gives insightful information, allowing the reader to fully understand Thai customs and culture. This book will help the frequent flyer, as well as the first timer, capture the beauty of Thailand.

After returning from a 3 week visit to Thailand, I came home feeling as though I had to go back right away. I also noticed the same feelings being ushered about online and in a circle of friends that I spoke with. What was it about this country that can make people feel as though it was their home? What makes it different than any other place in the world?

The book describes what people should know before visiting Thailand. Although best read from front to back, readers can move forward to any topic that will give them the information they are looking for.

I invite you to explore the world of Thailand and travel to a place that has captured the heart of many who have gone.

CHAPTER 2

Thailand: A Brief History

South East Asia’s Thailand enjoys a relatively peaceful life today. This has not always been the case, however, and Thailand has quite a turbulent, as well as interesting and long, history.

It is believed the area that is made up of the modern day countries of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, known as the Indochina Peninsular, has been home to various communities for over 500,000 years. Prehistoric fossilised remains of creatures similar, but not identical, to modern man, have been found, including the famous Lampang Man. These fossils show that the now extinct species of Homo erectus lived in this area.

The Dvaravati culture flourished between the 7th and 10th centuries in what is now central Thailand, spreading to eastern Thailand and northern Thailand, before being taken over by the Khmer Empire. In what is now southern Thailand, Malay tribal groups were in operation. A different kingdom operated in what is now the north-east of Thailand, as well as modern day Laos.

Early Kingdoms were made up of Mon, Khmer and Malay people. Thai people originate from southern Chinese provinces. They migrated south over many years, and came under the then mostly Khmer rule.

Ethnic Thais overpowered Khmer rulers to establish the inde-pendent Kingdom of Sukhothai in 1238. This kingdom prospered, and is commonly seen today as having been a golden and glorious time in Thailand’s history. The Sukhothai period lasted until 1378, when the Ayutthaya Kingdom gained dominance. The Ayutthaya Kingdom had also been formed by ethnic Thais, but was not as benevolent and quickly extended its rule over neighbouring places. It was during the Ayutthaya Period of 1350 to 1767 that trade began to take place with western countries. It is likely to have been Portuguese merchants during this time that coined the name Siam for the area.

At the same time, ethnic Thais created the Lanna Kingdom, which was in what is now the northern part of modern Thailand. This kingdom enjoyed a strong period, and often fought with the Ayutthaya Kingdom, but was conquered by Burma. It became a Burmese state in 1558.

Other kingdoms to be created by ethnic Thai people included those of Chiang Mai and Chaing Saen.

Ayutthaya was invaded by Burmese forces in 1767, and subjected to raging bloody battles which saw the Burmese conquer the Thais. Ayutthaya was ransacked and the Kingdom temporarily destroyed. A general and a few of his followers were able to escape, however, and later returned to re-capture Ayutthaya and remove Burmese forces.

After regaining control of Ayutthaya, the Thai capital was moved to Thon Buri. The Thon Buri Period was a short one, lasting only 15 years between 1767 and 1782. Most of this period was spent trying to reunite the different provinces and repair the Siam Kingdom after the Burmese invasion. 1775 saw the return of Lanna to the Siam Kingdom.

Throughout history, Thais fought with each other, as well as the Burmese, to try and gain control of different areas.

The capital was moved from Thon Buri to the other side of the Chao Praya River in 1782. It has remained here, in Bangkok, until the present day. It was during this time that the first King of the existing dynasty gained rule, known as the Chakri Dynasty. Thon Buri was merged into Bangkok a few years after the capital was moved.

Relations were rebuilt with western countries, and the Kingdom of Siam managed to escape being colonised, unlike many neighbouring kingdoms. Indeed, Thailand is the only country in South East Asia to have never come under colonial rule.

It was not until the early 1900s that the boundaries of modern day Thailand were fixed. Treaties were entered into with France to agree on borders with Cambodia and Laos, and with British Malaya to define the southern border.

Siam was ruled by successive kings as an absolute monarchy until a military coup in 1932 caused a change to a constitutional monarchy. The name Thailand came into existence in 1939, along with a democratic system of government.

Thailand was invaded by Japan during the Second World War and was occupied by Japanese Forces between 1941 and 1945. During this time work was carried out on the infamous Death Railway and the Kwai River Bridge. Under Japanese command, Thailand invaded Laos and was successful in capturing it from France. After the Japanese were defeated, Thailand was forced to return territory it had taken from Laos.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej succeeded to the throne in 1946 to become the 9th ruler of the Chakri Dynasty. He was crowned in 1950, after a four-year regency. Known as King Rama IX, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the existing King of Thailand, and is the longest serving current head of state.

During the last century, control of Thailand has shifted between military and civilian rule. Thailand sent troops to support UN Forces in the Korea War, and also supported the United States in the Vietnamese War. Thailand was a founding member of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and in recent years has seen several serious clashes between opposing groups, known as the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts. A major disturbance happened in 2010, when severe rioting broke out in Bangkok and other areas, military rule was enforced and the country was placed under emergency rule. Tensions flare occasionally in spots on the Cambodian border, and there is often unrest in the southern provinces.

Elections in 2011 saw Thailand’s first female Prime Minister come to power, Yingluck Shinawatra. The same year also saw Thailand’s worst floods in over 50 years, with much of the country being very badly affected.

CHAPTER 3

Thailand: Key Facts

Thailand is a country in South East Asia. It shares land borders with Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar / Burma. It has coastlines with the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, and Thailand’s coasts are dotted with many islands. Thailand covers some 513,120 square kilometres, and is divided administratively into 76 provinces. The bulk of the land is in the central, northern and