Overview

Background

Thailand has existed as a unified national entity since 1792 when, following a Burmese invasion that destroyed the previous capital of Ayutthaya, a nationwide uprising drove out the invaders and established the modern centralized state. Prior to that time, it was a loose federation of several kingdoms, including Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Chiang Mai. In Thai, the country is called Muang Thai (Land of the Thai), but the country was referred to as Siam in...