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History
The history of Thailand began in the region from south China
in the 11th century. At that time the kingdoms of
Sukhothai
and Chiang Mai were established. During the Sukhothai period
(1238-1419), the Thai people lived in peace, stability and prosperity
and had freedom in trade and commerce.
In the 14th century
Sukhothai began to decline and became a vassal state of the
rising
Ayutthaya
kingdom in 1378. Ayutthaya, the capital of the second Thai kingdom
was ruled by 33 successive kings, its strategic location contributed
to a thriving economy as a result of well-developed agriculture
and foreign trades. The beautiful city was of glittering palaces,
ornately-designed temples and gold-plated pagodas, were all
destroyed by the Burmese in April 1767.
Seven months
later Phraya Taksin, who served in the army of the last king
of Ayutthaya, succeeded in expelling the invaders and re-establishing
Thai sovereignty. King Taksin decided to move to the capital
to Thonburi, across the Chao Phraya and form a modern Bangkok.
After King Taksin's death in 1782 his general and friend Chao
Phraya Chakri ascended the throne and thus established the Chakri
Dynasty, the present royal house.
Until now Thai people
have had nine Kings, 7 of whom ruled as absolute monarchs Thailand.
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Geography
LOCATION : Southeast Asia
AREA : 198,456 Sq. m. (513,993
Sq. km.)
CAPITAL : Bangkok
MAIN CITIES :
Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Had Yai
TOPOGRAPHY
: Four Parts of Thailand include :
- The North or mountainous
region
- The Central Plain or Chao Phraya River Basin
- The Northeast or the Korat Plateau
- The South or the
Southern Peninsula
CLIMATE (Seasons) :
Cool (
December-February )
Hot ( March - June )
Rainy ( July
- November )
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Demography & Religion
POPULATION : 62.3 Million (1998). Population growth rate 1.3%
RELIGION :Buddhist (95%), Muslim (4%), Christian, Hindu
&
Others (1%)
LANGUAGE : Thai and English are the
most widely-spoken
ETHNIC MAKEUP : Thai (84%), Chinese
(12%) , Malay and minorities (4%)
LABOUR FORCE : 34.5
million (1996)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE : 3.4 % (1994)
EDUCATION : 4 Levels of education :
- one to three years
for pre-school education
- six years for primary education
- six years for secondary education
- four years for higher
education
COMPULSORY EDUCATION : 9 years , you have to
finish Primary School.
LITERACY RATE : 93 %
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Politic & Government
The government of the Kingdom of Thailand is a constitution
monarchy with a parliament consisting of the Senate, elected
by the people for a four-year term. The overall policy of the
Thai government since the early 1960s has been laid out in a
series of five-year plans. The Eighth National Economic and
Social Development plan is presently being implemented, covering
the period 1997-2001.
In the past, however, the military
has exerted great influence on civilian affairs, ruling the
country intermittently after the constitutional government began
in 1932. Recently, in responding to the tide of globalization,
there is a gradual change towards more effective civilian government.
A new constitution was drafted in 1997 as an attempt to improve
the effectiveness of democratic rule.
2006 saw an army coup that ousted priminister Taksin, two
weeks later a new government, a new constitution is being drawn
up, new elections in one years time.
The only people upset by this are those that were misusing
the old system.
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