Archeological discoveries around the northeast hamlet of Ban Chiang suggests that the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization had flourished in Thailand some 5,600 years ago.

Successive waves of immigrants, including Mons, Khmers, and Tais gradually entered the land mass known then as Siam, most of whom traveled slowly along fertile river valleys from Southern China. By the 11th and 12th Century, Khmers ruled much of the area from Angkor.

By the early 1200s, the Tais 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 saw the Thais gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River basin, the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the paramount Thai religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet, and the first expression of nascent Thai art forms, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and literature.

Sukhothai declined during the 1300s and eventually became a vassal state of Ayutthaya, a dynamic young kingdom further south in the Chao Phraya River valley. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital until 1767 when it was destroyed by Burmese invaders.

During Ayutthaya's 417 years as the capital under the rule of 33 kings, the Thais brought their distinctive culture to full fruition, totally rid their lands of Khmer presence, and fostered contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and European powers.

Ayutthaya's destruction was as severe a blow to the Thais as the loss of Paris or London would have been to the French or English. However, a Thai revival occurred within a few months and the Burmese were expelled by King Taksin, who later made Thon Buri his capital. In 1782, the first king of the present Chakri Dynasty, Rama I, established his new capital on the site of a riverside hamlet called Bangkok (Village of Wild Plums).

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 law.

Pre-20th-Century History

The earliest civilisation in Thailand is believed to have been that of the Mons in central Thailand, who brought with them a Buddhist culture from the Indian subcontinent. In the 12th century, the Mons met a Khmer group moving from the east, the Sumatran-based Srivijaya culture moving north, and people from the Thai state of Nan Chao migrating south. The first Siamese capital was created by Thai princes in Sukhothai with later centres created in Chiang Mai and, notably, Ayuthaya. The Burmese invaded Siam (as Thailand was known until 1939) in both the 16th and 18th centuries, capturing Chiang Mai and destroying Ayuthaya. The Siamese eventually expelled the Burmese and moved their capital to Thonburi. In 1782, the current Chakri dynasty was founded by King Rama I and the capital was relocated once more, this time across the river to Bangkok. In the 19th century, Siam maintained its independence by deftly playing off one European power against another.

Modern History

The 20th century brought great change to Thailand. In 1932, a peaceful coup converted the country into a constitutional monarchy and in 1939 Siam became Thailand. During WWII, the Thai government sided with the Japanese. After the war, the country was dominated by the military and experienced more than twenty coups and countercoups, interspersed with short-lived experiments with democracy. Democratic elections in 1979 were followed by a long period of stability and prosperity as power shifted from the military to the business elite. In February 1991 a military coup ousted the Chatichai government, but bloody demonstrations in May 1992 led to the reinstatement of a civilian government with Chuan Leekpai at the helm. This coalition government collapsed in May 1995 over a land-reform scandal, but the replacement prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa was no better. Dubbed a 'walking ATM' by the Thai press, he was forced to relinquish the leadership just over a year later after a spate of corruption scandals. Ex-general and former deputy PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh headed a dubious coalition until late 1997, when veteran pragmatist Chuan Leekpai retook the reins. In 1997 the Thai baht pretty much collapsed, dragging the economy (and many other southeast Asian economies) down in a screaming heap. The unfinished skyscrapers around Bangkok are a legacy of this downturn. In August 1997 the International Monetary Fund stepped in with a bailout package of austerity measures which - although it slowed Thailand's growth dramatically and hit the poor the hardest - seemed to have turned things around by early 1998. By the turn of the new century, Thailand's economy was no longer free falling, but rebuilding had only just begun. Genuine attempts to weed out corruption seem underway, but the poverty-stricken of Thailand are still wary of promises and agitating for more reforms.

Recent History

The relatively new Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT; Thais Love Thais), led by Thaksin Shinawatra, emerged as a force in Thai politics in the late 20th century, and saw many sitting MPs defect to its ranks. In parliamentary elections held in January 2001, TRT trounced Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's democrats.

Throughout his time in office Thaksin was able to broadly deliver on his promises and his popularity remained high among rural voters, his true power base. Among human-rights groups, however, he was less adored. He was dogged by rumours of corruption, drew criticism for restricting the media - Thaksin controlled Thailand's only independent TV station - and instigated a heavy handed 'war on drugs' that left thousands dead. Even more damning was his failure to end the mounting sectarian violence in the country's southern provinces.

In December 2004 the west-facing Andaman coast was hit by a tsunami, which killed more than 5000 people. Worst affected were small family-run businesses and fishermen, whose buildings and boats were lost to the waters. Aside from areas such as Ao Lo Dalam on Phi Phi island and the Khao Lak/Takua Pa areas in Phang-Nga province, the majority of tourist-reliant areas reopened within weeks or even days of the event.

Amid claims of corruption that sparked huge public demonstrations, Thaksin called a snap election on April 2, 2006. Although TRT won over 50% of the vote, the legitimacy of the victory was questioned as the major opposition parties boycotted the poll. Following an audience with the king, Thaksin chose to form an interim government with deputy Chidchai Vanasatidya as prime minister. In early May the courts overturned the April election result and called for a new vote in October. Thaksin then further angered his opponents by resuming control of the government. The situation came to a head on September 19. While Thaksin was in New York attending a meeting of the UN General Assembly, army commander-in-chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin carried out a bloodless coup, scrapped the constitution and appointed retired General Surayud Chulanont as interim prime minister.

The coup was condemned internationally but many Thais saw it as bringing to an end the rule of a corrupt leader and his government. This latter stance was given greater weight by the king's indirect support and approval for the coup, which again confirmed his key role in Thai politics. With escalating violence in the south and increasing controls on the media, many in Thailand wonder just what the future holds for their brittle democracy.