History of Thailand

Buddha from Wat Kukkut, Lamphun, Thailand .

The History of Thailand begins with the migration of Thais into what is now known as
Thailand during the first millennium. Prior to this, civilizations had existed in the Bronze Age
and Iron Age for several thousand years, and later Mon, Malay and Khmer kingdoms. The
Thais established their own kingdoms, most prominently in the brief flourishing of Sukhothai
and most lastingly in the kingdom of Ayutthaya. These kingdoms were constantly threatened
by Burma and Vietnam, as well as Thai and Lao rivals. European colonial powers threatened
Thailand in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but Thailand survived as the only
Southeast Asian state to escape colonization. After the end of the Thai absolute monarchy in
1932 , Thailand spent almost six years under almost permanent military rule before the
establishment of a democratic system. It is usually used in colonization that its old name while
it was colonized was AsisBancoc

Index
[ disguise ]

 1 Ancient history
 2 Sukhothai and Lannathai
 3 Ayutthaya
 4 Bangkok Period
 5 End of the Absolute Monarchy (1932) and its consequences
 6 Thailand, from 1945 to the revolution of '73
 7 The History of Thailand after 1973
 o 7.1 Revolution
o 7.2 Military Regime
o 7.3 Elections and Coup d'état
o 7.4 Democracy
 8 Recent History
 9 See also
 10 References

Ancient history
The largest archaeological site in Thailand is Ban Chiang . Dating objects from this site is
controversial, but it is accepted that at least around 3600 BC. C. The inhabitants had
developed bronze tools and had begun to cultivate wet rice , giving impetus to social and
political organization.
Later Malay, Mon, and Khmer civilizations flourished in the pre-Thai area, especially the
Srivijaya kingdom to the south, the Dvaravati kingdom in central Thailand, and the Khmer
empire founded at Angkor . The Thais are linguistically related to groups originating in southern
China . Migrations from southern China to Southeast Asia took place mostly during the first
millennium BC, probably through northern Laos .

Sukhothai and Lannathai

Thais believe that the founding of their nation was in the 13th century . According to tradition,
Thai chiefs revolted from Khmer rule in Sukhotai in 1238 and established the Thai kingdom.
The city briefly dominated the area of present-day Thailand during the reign of
Ramkhamhaeng , but after his death it declined and was subdued in 1365 by the kingdom of
Ayutthaya , which dominated southern and central Thailand until the 18th century .

Ayutthaya
Main article: Kingdom of Ayutthaya
The first monarch of the Ayutthaya kingdom, Ramathibodi I , made two important contributions
to Thai history: he established and encouraged Theravada Buddhism as an official religion, to
differentiate himself from the Hindu kingdom of Angkor, and he compiled the Dharmashastra ,
a legal code based on Hindu sources. and Thai customs. The Dharmashastra continued to be
Thai law well into the 19th century . Beginning with the Portuguese in the 16th century ,
Ayutthaya had contact with the West, but until the 19th century , its relations with neighboring
nations, as well as India and China, were paramount. Ayutthaya dominated a considerable
area, from the Muslim states on the Malay Peninsula to the northern states of Thailand.
However, Burma , which controlled Lanna and had also unified its kingdom under a powerful
dynasty, attempted to invade it several times in the 1750s and 1760s . Finally, the Burmese
attacked the city and conquered it in 1767 . The royal family fled the city, where the king died of
starvation ten days later, ending the royal lineage of Ayutthaya.

Bangkok period
After more than 400 years of rule in 1767 , the kingdom of Ayutthaya fell to the invasion of the
Burmese army. Its capital was burned and the territory was divided. General Taksin managed
to reunite the Thai kingdom from his new capital Thonburi and declared himself king in 1769 .
However, Taksin supposedly went mad and was deposed, taken prisoner, and executed in
1782 . General Chakri succeeded him in 1782 under the name Rama I , the first king of the
Chakri dynasty . The same year, he founded the new capital in Bangkok , on the banks of the
Chao Phraya River and on the opposite bank of Thonburi , the capital of Taksin. Burma was
defeated in 1790 and forced to withdraw from Siam . Lanna was also freed from Burmese
occupation, but the king of a new dynasty established in the 1790s was effectively a puppet of
the Chakri monarch .
Rama I's heirs were increasingly concerned about the threat of European colonialism , after
British victories in neighboring Burma in 1826 . The first recognition of a Western power in the
region was the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce (**Amity) with the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland in 1826 . In 1833 the United States began diplomatic contacts with Siam, as
Thailand was called until 1939 (and also between 1945 and 1949 ). However, it was during a
later reign, that of Chulalongkorn ( Rama V , 1868 - 1910 ) and his father, King Mongkut (
Rama IV , 1851 - 1868 ), that Thailand established a rapprochement with the Western powers.
The Thais believed that the diplomatic skills of these monarchs, combined with the
modernizing reforms of the Thai government, made Siam the only country in South and
Southeast Asia to avoid European colonization. This is reflected in the country's modern name,
Prathet Thai (Thailand), used unofficially between 1939 and 1945 and later officially from May
11, 1949 . Prahet means “nation” and Thai means “free.”
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 established the modern border between Siam and British
Malaya ensuring Thai authority in the provinces of Patan , Yala , Narathiwat and Satun , which
were previously part of the semi-independent Malay sultanates of Patan and Kedah . A series
of treaties with France fixed the current eastern border with Laos and Cambodia , territories
that Siam had previously claimed and partly controlled.

End of the Absolute Monarchy (1932) and its consequences [

edit ]
The Siamese coup of 1932 transformed the government of Thailand from an absolute
monarchy to a constitutional monarchy . King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) initially accepted this
change but later abdicated in favor of his ten-year-old nephew Ananda Mahidol (who (during
World War II) was favorable to the Empire of Japan (in the conflict between Japan (on the one
hand) and (on the other hand) the United States , the United Kingdom and France (the three
countries together); it was favorable to Japan), although it was nevertheless neutral in the
conflict between the Empire of Japan and the USSR and was even favorable to the USSR; in
the conflict between it and Nazi Germany ), who reigned as Branch VIII of Thailand. Upon
abdicating, Prajadhipok said that the obligation of a ruler was to reign for the good of all the
people, not a select minority. King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) died in 1946 under somewhat
mysterious circumstances. The official explanation was that he had accidentally shot himself
while cleaning his weapon (but some believe (although this is still unconfirmed) that Rama VIII
Ananda Mahidol, the king of Thailand, committed suicide because he could not bear the defeat
of Japan, a country with which he was fervently allied). He was succeeded by Bhumibol
Adulyadej , Thailand's longest reigning king and very popular with the Thais. Although
nominally a constitutional monarchy, Thailand was ruled by a series of military governments
(with Luang Phibunsongkhram and Sarit Dhanarajata being the most prominent leaders), with
brief periods of democracy . In 1992 the last military ruler, Suchinda Kraprayoon , resigned
from power in response to large popular protests, supported by the king. Since then, Thailand
has been a democracy with constitutional changes in government.
On December 8, 1941 , just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor , Japan demanded the right
to move troops through Thailand to the Malay border. The Japanese landed in Bangkok and
several locations along the east coast of southern Thailand, where they engaged the Thai
army for six to eight hours before the Thai army determined that it would have been impossible
to defend the kingdom. A little later, Japan was granted free transit and on December 21, 1941
, Thailand and Japan signed an alliance with a secret protocol in which Tokyo agreed to help
Thailand recover territories lost to the colonial powers, the United Kingdom and France , and
Thailand agreed to assist Japan in its war against the Allies.
After the defeat of Japan in 1945 , with the help of a group of Thais known as Seri Thai , with
support from the US, Thailand was treated as a defeated country by the British and French,
although American support mitigated the problems. terms of the Allies. Thailand was not
occupied by them, but was forced to return the territory obtained from the British and French.
In the post-war period, Thailand enjoyed good relations with the US. USA , which he saw as a
protector of communist revolutions in neighboring countries.

Thailand, from 1945 to the revolution of '73 [ edit ]

In 1946, King Mahidol died and his brother Bhumidol was crowned Rama IX (current king). In
1947 the new king signs and promulgates a new constitution, creating a new parliament with 2
chambers: 100 senators and 240 from the House of Representatives. Since then, Thailand
was dominated by the military and experienced more than twenty coups and countercoups,
with brief intervals of democracy. After the communist revolution triumphed in the north of the
country in 1962 , the United States collaborated with the government in Bangkok, helping to
strengthen the army and police and establishing military bases, which were evacuated in
1976 . In this way, Thailand found itself increasingly involved in the Vietnamese conflict, just as
it had suffered numerous frictions with Cambodia shortly before.

The History of Thailand after 1973 [ edit ]

Thailand's history since 1973 has been a series of difficult and sometimes bloody transitions
between military and civilian power. The 1973 revolution was followed by a brief and unstable
democracy, in turn followed by a return to a military regime brought to power by a coup d'état
in 1976 . This military regime has been very unstable due to many other coups d'état.
Throughout most of the 1980s, General Prem Tinsulanonda has reigned over Thailand, leading
a military regime, as well as a democratic mandate beginning in 1983 . The country then
maintained a democracy set apart for a brief period under military rule from 1991 to 1992 . The
Thai Rak Thai (Tai who love Tai) party led by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has governed
the country since 2001 .
Revolution
In October 1973, massive demonstrations took place in Bangkok, demanding the end of
military rule. General Thanom Kittikachorn responded forcefully and up to 70 protesters were
killed in the streets, the likes of which had never been seen before in Thailand. This violent
intervention by the military regime prompted King Rama IX to make his first intervention in Thai
politics by withdrawing his support for the military regime, and on October 14, 1973 , General
Thanom Kittikachorn resigned and left the country.
The events of October 1973 revealed themselves to be a revolution within Thai politics. For the
first time, the urban bourgeoisie, led by students, had defeated the combined forces of the old
ruling class and the army, while gaining the apparent blessing of the King to make a transition
to full democracy, symbolized by a new Constitution that provided for an entirely elected
legislature.
Unfortunately, Thailand had not yet produced a political class to a sufficient extent to make this
new democracy work without a single coup. The January 1975 election did not produce a
stable majority, and a new election in April 1976 had the same results. Veteran politician Seni
Pramoj and his brother Kukrit Pramoj alternated in power, but were unable to create a coherent
reform of the political system. The sharp rise in oil prices in 1974 led to a recession and
inflation, weakening the government's position.
The most popular political gesture made in democracy was the withdrawal of American forces
from Thailand. This coincided regionally with the abolition of the 600-year-old monarchy in
Laos, and the communist victory in Vietnam. However, the Conservatives performed better in
the 1976 election than they had in 1975 . The left wing of the student movement did not accept
this victory and continued to demonstrate in favor of radical changes.
Military Regime
At the end of 1976 , moderate bourgeois opinion turned its back on the increasingly militant
radicalism of the students of Thammasat University. The army and right-wing parties fought
against the radicals with paramilitary groups such as the “People's Explorers” or the “Gauss
Network”. The example occurred in October, when Thanom returned to Thailand to enter a
monastery. Student demonstrations clashed with counter-protesters and intelligence service
agents, resulting in violence. On October 6, 1976 , the army unleashed paramilitaries on
protesters and used this orgy of violence, in which hundreds of students were tortured and
murdered, to suspend the Constitution and regain power.
Elections and Coup d' état
Democracy

Recent History
Recently Thailand has also been an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Countries ( ASEAN ), particularly after the restoration of democracy in 1992 .
On September 19, 2006, the country's military staged a coup against the country's government
to "remove the corrupt prime minister from office." With the support of the king, they began a
process that led to a provisional government and the preparation of a new constitution, with a
delivery date of October 2007 , the date on which new elections should take place.

Thailand , 15 officially Kingdom of Thailand ( Thai ราชอาณาจักรไทย Ratcha Anachak Thai ),

is a country in Southeast Asia , bordered by Laos and Cambodia to the east , the Gulf
of Thailand and Malaysia to the south , and the Andaman Sea and Burma. to West . 16

The country was previously known as Siam . 17 This name was first changed in 1939 to
Prathet Thai ( ประเทศไทย ) and again in 1949 (having been reverted during World War II ).
18
Prathet means 'country' and the word Thai ( ไทย ) means 'free' or 'freedom' in the Thai
language, 18 a word that is also the name of the majority ethnic group in Thailand (an
ethnic group that found its freedom more than two millennia ago , upon arriving in this
region fleeing the Chinese). This makes Prathet Thai translate as 'Country of Free
People'. When translated into English, Prathet Thai became Thailand ('Land of the
Thai'), and from there to "Tailandia" in Spanish .

The country is a constitutional monarchy , ruled by King Rama IX , ninth king of the
Chakri Dynasty , who has reigned since 1946, is the longest-reigning head of state in
the world and the longest-reigning head of state in Thailand in the history of Thailand .
 19
The king of Thailand has the title of head of state, head of the armed forces,
Buddhist adherent and supporter of religions. twenty

Thailand is the 51st country in terms of land area , with an area of approximately
513,000 km², and is the 20th most populous country in the world , with nearly 64
million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok , it is the center of political,
commercial, and industrial activity. About 75% of the ethnic population is Tai , 14% is
of Chinese origin, and 3% is Malay ; 21 The rest belong to minority groups including the
Mons , Khmer and various hill tribes . The official language of the country is Thai. The
main religion is Buddhism , which is practiced by 95% of its population.

Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1996, and is today a
newly industrialized country and a major exporter. Tourism also contributes
significantly to the Thai economy. 22 23 There are 2.2 million legal and illegal immigrants
in the country, 24 this land also attracts expatriates from developing countries. 25

Index
[ disguise ]

 1 History
o 1.1 Ancient history
o 1.2 Sukhothai and Lannathai
o 1.3 Ayutthaya
o 1.4 Ratthanakosin
o 1.5 End of the Absolute Monarchy
o 1.6 Recent history
 2 Government and politics
 3 Political-administrative organization
 4 Geography
o 4.1 Relief
o 4.2 Climate
o 4.3 Flora and fauna
 5 Economy
o 5.1 Agriculture
o 5.2 Livestock
o 5.3 Fishing
 o 5.4 Currency
o 5.5 Tourism
 6 Infrastructure
o 6.1 Transport
 7 Demographics
o 7.1 Education
o 7.2 Health
 8 Culture
o 8.1 Gastronomy
o 8.2 Festivities
 9 Sports
 10 See also
 11 References
 12 External links

History [ edit ]
Main article: History of Thailand

Ancient history

Due to its geographical location, Thai culture has traditionally been influenced by the
cultures of China and India . However, Thailand has generated different indigenous
cultures since the Ban Chiang period.

About 3,000 years ago, what is now Thailand was occupied by the Australoasiatic Mon
and Khmer peoples until shortly before our era, the Tais began their migration from
China to the south, settling in the Mekong and Me Nam basins. 26
Sukhothai and Lannathai

During the 13th century the Tais founded various city-states and principalities, with the
Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai conventionally considered the first Tai state in the
region. 26 It was founded in 1238 , and its development coincides in time with the stage
of debacle and fall of the Khmer Empire , between the 13th and 15th centuries.

A century later, in the mid-14th century, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya replaced Sukhothai
as the dominant power in Siam . After the sacking of Angkor by Ayutthaya in 1431 , a
large part of the Khmer court was forced to go into exile to Ayutthaya, bringing with
them their Hindu- inspired Khmer rituals and customs. Many of these customs are later
assimilated by the Ayutthaya culture.
Ayutthaya

Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple ruins in Ayutthaya . Built in the 17th century, it was burned and looted
in 1767 by a Burmese army.

European powers began to establish contacts with Thailand from the 16th century
onwards. In 1609 the Dutch began relations with the Kingdom of Ayutthaya , shortly
after the British soon followed in the footsteps of the Dutch. King Narai ( 1657 - 1688 )
gave the power to make commercial decisions to the Greek adventurer Constantinos
Phaulkon who decided to grant the spice market to the French, both nations forged
good relations, even reaching an agreement for the Kingdom of Ayutthaya to send
ambassadors to Paris but when French troops landed in Bangkok , a popular rebellion
prevented the trade agreement. The Dutch had fomented the rebellion because they
opposed the French monopoly on spices. 26 Shortly afterwards the French attempted
to convert King Narai to Christianity, but when Narai died in 1688 the French were
expelled and the king's Greek advisor, Constantinos Phaulkon , was executed. 27

After the fall of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1767 , Thonburi became the capital of
Thailand for a brief period under King Taksin the Great, until the coup d'état of 1782 .
Ratthanakosin

The current era (Ratthanakosin) of Thai history begins in 1782, during the reign of
Rama I the Great, of the Chakri dynasty, who established the capital of Siam in
Bangkok .

Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that has
never been colonized by a European power. The main explanation for this fact is that,
throughout the 19th century , Thailand had a long succession of skillful rulers, who
demonstrated an enormous ability to use the Franco-British rivalry in the area to their
advantage. As a result, the country acquired the status of a buffer state between the
French Southeast Asian countries ( Indochina ) and Britain -held India and Burma .
Despite its independence, Western influence caused many reforms to be carried out
during this period, including the granting of important concessions in favor of British
commercial interests. One of these concessions was the transfer of the three southern
provinces of Thailand, which are currently part of Malaysia .
End of Absolute Monarchy

In 1932 , a bloodless revolution brought about the establishment of a new

constitutional monarchy. During World War II Thailand allied itself with Japan .
Following the defeat of the Japanese and the end of the war, Thailand realigns,
becoming an ally of the United States . Since the beginning of the Cold War and until
the 1980s , Thailand remains a politically unstable country. During this period, a
succession of government changes occurred as a result of two coups d'état. After
overcoming this period, the country is configured, since the last military coup in 1991 ,
as a modern participatory democracy.
Recent history
See also: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake , 2006 Thailand coup , 2008–2010 Thailand
political crisis , 2013–2014 Thailand protests , and 2014 Thailand coup .

A tsunami hits the coast of Ao Nang , Thailand, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake .

In 1997 , the Asian financial crisis hit Thailand hard. The value of the Thai baht
plummets, from 25 baht per dollar to 56 baht per dollar. The economic crisis caused by
this event has already been overcome. GDP growth in 2003 was 7%.

In 2001 , Thaksin Shinawatra , of the Thai Rak Thai party ( Thais love Thais ), became
Thai Prime Minister, after winning the elections held that same year. In 2005 , Thaksin
renewed his mandate for another four years. However, during this same period
accusations of, among other things, coercion of press freedom, vote buying, use of
power to favor their companies, police abuses in the war on drug trafficking, and
inability to stop the Islamist insurgency in the south of the country.

In April 2006, elections were held again and Thaksin re-validated the position.
However, after the opposition boycotted the new government, the Thai Supreme Court
ruled to annul the electoral results and call for a new appointment with the polls. On
September 19, 2006 , while Thaksin was in New York , the military of the self-styled
"Democratic Reform Council" under the command of Sondhi Boonyaratglin took
power, ending fifteen years of democracy in the country.

Later, normality returned to Thailand and Thaksin's party prevailed, ruling until October
2008 when APD followers, dressed in their yellow shirts, blocked the Bangkok airport
and forced entry to the NDP government. To this day, Thaksin's followers continue to
protest against what they consider an unfairly imposed government.

On May 22, 2014 , after months of political instability , the Army staged a coup d'état ,
with a military junta taking control of the country after declaring martial law . 28 29

Government and politics [ edit ]

Main article: Government and politics of Thailand

The Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, former meeting place of the National Assembly.

The Thai parliament, the meeting place of the two houses of the National Assembly of Thailand .
The aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet , of the Royal Thai Navy, was designed and built in
Spain .

During the validity of the 1997 Constitution, the political system was based on a
constitutional monarchy with the powers of the State separated in the Western way, in
which the figure of the Monarch, as Head of State , had a representative function
although he was, at the same time time, the defender of Thai Buddhism . Legislative
power resided in the National Assembly of Thailand , in a bicameral system composed
of the Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon ( Lower House ), which consisted of a House of
Representatives with 500 seats and a Senate ( Wuthisapha ) with 200 seats. The
members of both chambers were elected by universal suffrage .

The highest judicial level was occupied by the Supreme Court or Sandika , whose
judges were appointed by the monarch. The executive branch consisted of a Prime
Minister and a 26-member government that responded to the National Assembly.

On September 19, 2006 , Royal Thai Army forces took Bangkok in a coup that
overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra . The Military Junta formed by the coup
plotters was chaired by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin , who abolished the Constitution,
dissolved the executive, judicial and legislative powers, imposed martial law and
prohibited political activities, also establishing press censorship and control of
communications. . The arguments put forward by the coup plotters were the serious
crisis of deterioration of the political system as a consequence of alleged financial
irregularities of the deposed Prime Minister.

After a brief period, the Council for Democratic Reform (the name with which the
Military Junta called itself) obtained the approval of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and
appointed a new executive branch, as well as issuing a provisional Constitution. The
new Prime Minister since October 1 was General Surayud Chulanont and on the same
day a provisional constitutional text came into force that maintains the monarchy,
although reserving for the Military Junta, now called the National Security Council , the
power to modify the government and the Prime Minister himself and elect the
Constituent Assembly to present a new constitutional text within one year.

After the final Constitution was approved in 2007 , general elections were held in 2007,
which gave victory to the People Power Party led by Samak Sundaravej , a man linked
to Thaksin Shinawatra. Once the government was formed, a serious political crisis
broke out a few months later. led by the People's Alliance for Democracy , which
forced the resignation of several ministers before the summer of 2008, altercations in
Bangkok that forced the declaration of a state of emergency , and finally the
resignation of Prime Minister Sundaravej following a sentence that condemned him for
presenting a gastronomic program on television, considered by the court to be an illicit
private activity for a member of the government. On September 17 , the National
Assembly elected Somchai Wongsawat , brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra and
also a member of the People's Power Party, as the new prime minister. However, the
country experienced a long period of crisis until 2010 when, first, the yellow shirts
integrated into the Popular Alliance for Democracy managed to overthrow the
government of Somchai Wongsawat and the National Assembly elected the leader of
the Democratic Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva . Abhisit's government was not exempt from
civil clashes, this time with the red shirts , integrated into the National United Front for
Democracy against Dictatorship , who occupied Bangkok in the spring of 2010 . The
eviction of the red shirts by the army left dozens dead and the crisis persisted. In 2011,
general elections were held that gave victory by an absolute majority to Yingluck
Shinawatra , younger sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was appointed
prime minister by the National Assembly on August 5, 2011. 30

Political - administrative organization

Main article: Territorial organization of Thailand

Main article: Royal Thai Armed Forces

Thailand is divided into 76 provinces ( Thai : จังหวัด , changwat , singular and plural)
grouped into 5 groups, in some cases the eastern and western provinces are grouped
together. The name of each province is that of its capital city, sometimes with the
prefix Mueang (or Muang ) to avoid confusion with the province. With the exception of
Songkhla Province , the capital is also the largest city in the province.
Bangkok is both the most populated province and the one with the highest population
density. The largest province is Nakhon Ratchasima , the smallest is Samut
Songkhram . Mae Hong Son Province has the lowest population density, and Ranong
has the lowest absolute population (figures taken from the 2000 census).

Each province is administered by a governor, appointed by the Minister of the Interior.

The only exception is Bangkok, where the governor is elected. The provinces are
divided into 877 districts (amphoe, อำเภอ ). The fifty districts of Bangkok are called khet
( เขต ), but are commonly called amphoe , even in some official documents. The
districts are further divided into tambon (communes or sub-districts) and mubaan
(towns).

Interactive map of the provinces of Thailand. Click on a province to go to its corresponding article.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Thailand

Satellite view during the 2011 Thailand Floods .

Relief

The series of mountain ranges that extend from north to south occupy the northern
and western part of the country . The highest elevations occur in the mountain systems
that extend to the west, along the Burmese border, and that rise to 2,595 m of Doi
Inthanon, which is, on the other hand, the highest point in Thailand. The area that
belongs to the Malay Peninsula is surrounded by narrow coastal plateaus and reaches
its highest point at Jao Luang (1,790 m). In the center of Thailand another mountain
system appears that extends in a north-south direction, although its southern end turns
towards the west; Doi Pia Fai (1,270 m) is the highest mountain. In the east of the
continental territory is the Jorat Plateau (written Khorat in English), a barren area with
few peaks and covering approximately a third of the country, limited by the valley of
the Mekong River . 31
Climate
View of the Luang Prabang Range mountain range, in the north of the country.

Thailand enjoys a humid tropical climate affected by the action of monsoon winds ,
which vary in direction depending on the season of the year. From April to October, the
winds are mostly southeasterly and are loaded with humidity; The rest of the year,
these winds blow from the northeast. 32

Temperatures in Thailand are generally high, ranging between 15°C and 35°C. 26 The
highest temperatures are during the months of March , April and May . The rainy
season runs from June to October , when temperatures are high and heavy rainfall
occurs. 33 The coldest months are November , December , January and February
when temperatures drop to 15 °C at night, although during the day they reach around
30 °C. 26

Annual rainfall is about 1,525 mm in the north, west and central regions; 2,540 mm or
even more in the Thai part of the Malay Peninsula; and, finally, about 1,270 mm on the
Jorat plateau. 32
Flora and fauna

The jungles and swampy areas are spread throughout the coastal areas of Thailand
and have enormous areas of tropical trees, including mangroves, Indian reeds, ebony
and different species of highly resistant wood, such as mesquite, rosewood and
rosewood. The highland and plateau areas also have many tree species, highlighting
teak (a type of resinous tree), agalloch and oak , along with a wide variety of tropical
plants and fruit trees such as orchids , gardenias. , hibiscus , banana , mangoes and
coconuts . Among the animal species is the elephant , which is used as a pack animal,
as well as quadrupeds such as rhinoceroses , tigers , leopards , gaurs or wild oxen ,
gibbons and buffaloes . The Siamese cat is, as its name suggests, native to Thailand.
In the country there are more than fifty kinds of snakes , among which there is a wide
variety of venomous species. 3. 4
Economy
Main article: Economy of Thailand

Bangkok , the capital, is also the largest city and the economic and financial center of the country.

Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter.

Agriculture
Main article: Agriculture in Thailand

Agriculture's share of Thailand's GDP has declined rapidly in recent decades and
currently stands at no more than 12 percent. Agriculture still accounts for more than 25
percent of total export earnings, but labor productivity is relatively low and the sector
continues to contribute 46 percent of total employment. Agricultural products constitute
15 percent of total exports (including invisibles), but their share of imports is much
smaller (less than 5 percent), mainly due to abundant food supplies in local production.
Under these circumstances, an undistorted global trading system consistent with
market principles can be expected to bring great benefits to Thailand. 35

The cultivation, processing and export of agricultural products, especially rice , have
traditionally been the main support of the Thai economy. Although the country has
been one of the most prosperous in Asia, its dependence on rice monoculture has
made it very vulnerable to fluctuating market prices and crop variations. The
government has carried out campaigns to reduce this vulnerability as much as
possible, instituting a number of development programs aimed at diversifying the
economy and promoting scientific farming methods, particularly those involving
irrigation by flooding rice fields, which allows crops to be more or less stable even
during years of drought . 36
Livestock

In Thailand, the export of pork abroad is prohibited, 37 despite being one of the largest
food exporters in Asia . 38 In Thailand, the main livestock products come from ducks ,
pigs , oxen , and cows . 39
Fishing

The most important fishing places in the country are, in addition to the Andaman Sea
and the Gulf of Thailand , the Mekong River , 40 and the Chiang Mai ; 41 already better
organized due to a new law passed by the Thai government to avoid conflicts between
industrial fishing and scale fishing . 42

Thailand's large freshwater fish species are: barramundi, Siamese carp, Mekong giant,
catfish, and giant snackhead. 43 As for sea species, the most important species are:
Alligator Gar, Java Barbel, Hampala Barbel, Peacock Bass, Catfish, Mangrove Jack,
and Tambaqui. 44
Currency

During the dynasty inaugurated by Rama I, a new type of currency called Bala was
introduced. Initially these pieces consisted of pieces of silver that bore a royal
countermark sometimes accompanied by a mark called chakra or eye of the goddess
Vishnu . There are several punches of the royal symbol that allow us to know under
which monarch each countermark was made. There are coins that are countermarked
with only one of these symbols, but others have two or three symbols at the same
time. These curious countermarks were stamped to facilitate the circulation of foreign
coins within the country and increase their value. Eight Spanish reales and republican
Mexican pesos were countermarked, which circulated for the legal value of 2 baht or 8
salung. There is also a known countermark from the 19th century that was used in
Bangkok by a coin changer and metal assayer named Yong Kim. Four. Five

The currency of Thailand, currently, is the Baht , which has an equivalent of 100 stang,
46
in euros , (€) of €0.0233. 47 and in American dollars it is 0.03 $ 48 although the value
of the Baht varies constantly in the currency market and is also the only currency
accepted within the country. 49

In Thailand, throughout its history, there have been several dates for the creation of
each current currency, and others that have already become extinct: 50

 1874 - 1882 : 0.5 paise.

 1876 - 1925 : 1 salung.(*)
 1919 - 1921 : 2 salungs.
 1902 - 1905 : 1 att.
 1913 - 1996 : 1 baht.(*)
 1929 : 0.5 baht.
 1908 - 1996 : 1 and 5 stang.(*)
 1942 - 1996 : 10 stang.(*)
 1945 : 20 stang.
 1946 - 1996 : 25 stang.(*)
 1950 - 1996 : 50 stang.(*)
 1972 - 1995 : 5 baht.(*)
 1988 - 1996 : 10 baht.

(*) It has had several models throughout its history.

Tourism [ edit ]

Ao Nang Beach.

The country has been characterized by ruins , temples and the Millennial Culture
stands out a lot. 51

In Thailand, there are seven places known as the "Seven Wonders of Thailand", and
they are as follows: Thainess, the Land of Treasures and History, beaches, the Thai
natural environment, the Country of Healthy Smiles, Thai trends to its culture and
Thailand's international festivals. 52

Infrastructure
Transportation

The most important international entrance is through Suvarnabhumi International

Airport , which, in addition to being the main airport in Thailand, is the most important
in Southeast Asia . 53 Other less important airports are Phuket and Chiang Mai . 54

The railway network has an extension of 4,600 km, and connects the main cities,
towns and tourist centers of the country, with the exception of Phuket. It has recently
expanded and now reaches the east coast of Thailand. 55

Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Thailand

The Thai population is dominated by the Thai and Lao ethnicities, which make up
three-quarters of the population. There is also a large Chinese community that has
historically played a disproportionately significant role in the economy. Other ethnic
groups include the Malays in the south , the Mon, Khmer and various indigenous hill
tribes. About 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition, but there are also
minorities of Muslims , Christians and Hindus . The Tai language is the national
language of Thailand, written with its own alphabet, despite the existence of ethnic and
regional dialects; and even though English is widely taught in schools. 56
Education

Chulalongkorn University , established in 1917, is the oldest in Thailand.

The Ministry of Education administers and regulates education in Thailand. In 2005 ,

the government allocated 262,938.3 million baht or about 22% of the national budget
to education. Thailand, as of 2005 , has one of the highest literacy levels in the Asian
region at 92.6%. 57

The Constitution guarantees twelve years of free basic education. Formal education is
divided into four stages. The first level, Prathom 1-3, covers the three years of
elementary school. The second level, Prathom 4-6, from grade 4 to 6. The third level,
Matthayom 1-3, includes the first three years of secondary school. The fourth and final
level Matthayom 4-6, includes the last three years corresponding to high school. Thais
are required to attend six years of elementary school and at least the first 3 years of
secondary school. Students are also required to take the NET (National Education
Test) after each level. Upon graduating from high school, it is necessary to take two
exams to continue with higher education: O-NET (Ordinary National Education
Examination) and A-NET (Advanced National Education Examination). 57

The most requested plans in public and private universities in Thailand are courses in
medicine, information technology, humanities and arts. Law and business classes
abroad have started to gain popularity among Thai students. All college-bound
students must pass the CUAS (Central University Admission System) before earning a
bachelor's degree. The CUAS contains 50% of the results of the O-NET and A-NET
and 50% of the average points obtained from the fourth level. More than half of the
provinces in Thailand have the so-called Rajabhat University, an educational institution
for teachers and which is formally known as the Rajabhat Institute. 57
Health [ edit ]
Life expectancy at birth is 69/75 years, and healthy life expectancy (also at birth) is
58/62 years. 58

Culture
Main article: Culture of Thailand
Theravada Buddhism is highly respected in Thailand.

Thailand has a very varied culture, which is generally influenced by Buddhism.

Theravāda Buddhism is the main religion and the center of modern Thai identity and
faith. Thai culture manages to adapt secularism in the development of the country. 59

Thailand is one of the few countries in the world in modern times that has had no effect
on its traditions and culture. 60

There are seven periods and themes in the art of Thailand during the last 2000 years .
Furthermore, there have been different regional issues in different periods, some of
which no longer make up the current region of Thailand. 61
Gastronomy

Som tam , typical dish of Thai Gastronomy .

In gastronomy, the most used ingredients are chillies , lime juice, palm or brown
sugar , soy sauce , sesame oil, purple basil , tender bamboo shoots, rice and noodles .
62
The techniques used in Thai cooking consist of easy methods that produce great
tasting results. The five flavors present in all Thai dishes are: sweet , sour , salty ,
spicy and bitter . Traditional Thai cuisine is rich in flavors that come from varied
cultures. Different dishes such as egg omelette, fish cooked with spices, steamed rice,
pasta, meats (pork, chicken and beef) combined with various vegetables have their
origins in Chinese cuisine . 63
Festivities [ edit ]
Date Party (year 2012) 64 Grades

January 1 New Year.

January 3 New Year.

18th of
Makha Bucha Day.
February
 6 of April Chakri dynasty festival.

April 13th Maha Songkran. Buddhist.

April 14th Nao Day. Buddhist.

Maha Songkran and Taleung

April 15 Buddhist.
Sok.

May 5th Coronation party.

May 16 Bridge.

may 17th Visakha Bucha. Buddhist.

July 15 Asalha Bucha.

August 12 Queen's Birthday.

October 24th Chulalongkoun Festival.

National
December 5th King's birthday.
holiday.

December 12th Day of the constitution.

Sports [ edit ]
 Thailand at the Olympic Games
 Thailand national football team
 Thai Premier League

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand.

Muay Thai , or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand 65 66 and is also a native
martial art . 65 67 It achieved popularity around the world during the 1990s 67 becoming
one of the most popular contact sports in the world. 65 Although there are other similar
martial arts in other Far Eastern countries, few have the vision that Muay Thai has
received with its full contact rules allowing blows with elbows and knees, creating a
new specialty, Kick Boxing . 68

Sepak takraw is a native Southeast Asian sport widely practiced in Thailand. 69 From
sepak takraw, a new sport developed in Thailand known as lawd buang or lawd huang
within the country or as hoop takraw internationally. 69

Professional football , however, has arguably taken Muay Thai 's position as the most
watched and preferred sport in contemporary Thai society [ citation needed ] and it is not
uncommon to see Thais supporting their favorite English Premier League teams. .
Another widely enjoyed pastime is flying small kites. 70 Additionally, Thailand hosted
the 1966 , 71 1970 , 72 1978 , 73 and 1998 Asian Games. 74