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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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