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The Orient's Realm of...
Thailand
General Region
Thailand (or Siam as it was called until 1939) is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a foreign power. It has been invaded by the Burmese and the Khmers often. And was briefly occupied by the Japanese in WWII. But the kingdom itself has never been dominated by an outside power long enough to change its extraordinary character.
 Origins: The first prehistoric culture in Thailand emerged around 12,000 years ago, with the known burial of Kanchanaburi cave. The origins of thai people aren’t very clear and several theories try to answerd this question. It presumed that they originated in the northwestern Szechuan in China and then immigrated to the actual Thaï region along the southern part of China. Another theory, based in archaeological excavations, try to show that Thai have they origins in the local territory and then immigrated to other parts of Asia, like China. Others even say that they origins are not Mongoloid but Austronesian.
The Formation and Rise of Siam: The earliest civilisation in Thailand is believed to have been the Mons. They settled quickly, building cities and giving birth to several local kingdoms. A buddhist culture arrives with them, brought from the Indian subcontinent. One of them were the Dvaravati, who fell later with the arrival of the Khmer in the 12th century, who ruled most of the area from Angkor. Finally, in 1238, two Thai chieftains rebelled against Khmer suzerainty and established the first truly independent Thai kingdom in Sukhothai(literally, 'Dawn of Happiness'). In the north, other Tai war parties conquered the old Mon state of Haripunjaya and in 1296 founded the kingdom of Lan Na.
A Brief History of Siam The Lan Na Period ( 1259 – 1317 A.D.): The La Na civilisation was centred on Chiang Mai and spread south to north in the Chao Phraya River basin. The Burmese occupied the Lanna region from 1556 until it was finally annexed by Central Thailand in the late 18th century.
The Sukhothai Period (1238 - 1378 A.D): First Thai kingdom, it was founded by Khun Bang Klang Thao (Si Inthrathit) and Khun Pha Muang who rebelled against the Khmer influence and power and gaining the independance in 1238. Known as the gold period of Thailand, everybody said in that age: "There are fish in the water and rice in the fields”. It was during this period that the basis of the actual Thai alphabet was developed.
The Ayutthay Period (1350 - 1767 A.D.): In the 14th century, Ayutthaya Kingdom was established and expanded its power over most of the northern and central Thai states. The Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning and an absolutism monarchy is stablished. The king assume the title of devaraja, the god-king. During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with western countries. In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya and destroy the city. The Thon Buri Period (1767 - 1772 A.D.): Than, Thon Buri emerged after the fall of Ayutthaya, but it lasted only for a shot period, leaded by the famous general Taskin, who tranfered the capital of Siam to a new city – Thon Buri - more close to the sea, to make easier the trade with foreign countries. But this instable period did not make an easy governement to Taskin, who falls quickly. The Rattanakasin Period (1782 - Present): In 1782, King Rama I established Bangkok as the new capital, opposite to the Thon Buri site. After Taksin's death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, wich continues to rule the country. In 1939, The kingdom of Siam changes is name to Thailand, after centurys trying to avoid european colonisation. During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with western countries, specially Portugal, who arrives during the 16th century, just after, Spain, Netherlands, Britain and finally, in 1662, France. The country also have distinct ethnic groups, wich arrived to the area thousands of years ago from China and Tibet , called the Hill Tribes. The diversity of cultures is one of the major characteristics of the Kingdom of Siam, enhaced by an extremely rich history, making of Siam a luxury dream for all westerners.
Sources:
http://www.e-guidethailand.com/html/history.html http://www.welcomethai.net/eng/guide_c.asp http://www.sala.net/Thailand/History/ayttaya.html http://www.mahidol.ac.th/thailand/ayutthaya.html http://www.countryreports.org/history/thailhist.htm http://www.sawadee.com/thailand/info/tat01.html http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/thailand_history.asp http://www.thaifocus.com/history.htm http://www.thailine.com/thailand/english/hill-e/hilltr-e.html http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/thai_his/ http://www.csmngt.com/thailand_history.htm http://www.usmta.com/Thai-History-Frame.htm Photos by: - David and Magalie - MarkMaclean - wsmith Under the Creative Commons Deed. 
  
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