Thailand

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Thailand
History of Thailand:
In 650 A.D. a group of Chinese people migrated to the northern part what is today Thailand. They began an independent kingdom called Nanchao. In 1000 A.D. the Chinese had defeated the Nanchao and turned it into a tributary state. In 1253 Kublai Khan lead the Mongols to destroy the state. Then Thailand had a mass migration and formed the Khmer Empire. The Nanchao now called the Thai regained control of Khmer and moved its capital to Sukhothai. In 1260-1350 King Rama Kamheng began the alphabet of the Thai. He took the Khmers of Cambodia’s alphabet. In 1350 the capital was then moved to Ayutthaya. In 1568 the Burmese captured Ayutthaya and controlled the country until 1583. In 1583 King Naresuan defeated and controlled the country. In 1767 the Burmese destroyed Ayutthaya. General Phya Tak rallied the Thai forces in 1777 and defeated the Burmese. He moved the capital to Thon Buri. After him Rama I founded the Chakkri dynasty. They later signed commercial treaties with Great Britain and the United States. In 1932 they became a constitutional monarchy. In 1934 the first general elections were held. In 1938 Pibul Songgram he changed the countries name from Siam to Thailand. In 1942 the Japanese pressured the Thai to declare war on Britain and United States. In 1968 Sarit and Thanom helped the economy to boom. The Thais helped the U.S. in the Vietnam War. In 1970 Thailand suffered from a trade deficit, when the demand for rice fell. In 1992 Chuan Leekpai became the prime minister. In 1995 he helped lower voting age to 18, guaranteed equal rights for women, and reduced membership in the military dominated senate. In 1997 he helped approve a new constitution. In 1997 Thailand suffered a deep recession. In 2000 they recovered. They are still a booming economy in Asia.
Geography of Thailand:
Thailand covers 198,114 square miles of land. It is mainly split up into four sections. The northern section has many for...