thailand

thailand

Kenneth A. Subido

.exploring.

Thailand, a nation in the heart of Southeast Asia's continental territory. Thailand, which is entirely tropical, has a variety of ecoregions, including the steep forested regions of the northern frontier, the fertile rice fields of the middle plains, the wide plateau of the northeast, and the wild coastlines of the small southern peninsula.

Thailand was predominantly an agricultural nation until the second part of the 20th century, but since the 1960s, an increasing number of people have moved to Bangkok, the capital, and other cities. There are other major cities, including Chiang Mai in the north, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani in the northeast, Pattaya in the southeast, and Hat Yai in the extreme south, even though the greater Bangkok metropolitan area continues to be the country's most important urban hub.

History of Thailand

Little is known of Thailand’s earliest inhabitants, but there are archaeological sites in the northeast of the country that contain evidence of rice cultivation and bronze casting that date back 5,000 years. In the early days a succession of tribal groups controlled what we now know as Thailand. The Mon and Khmer peoples established powerful kingdoms that included large areas of the country. These kingdoms came into contact with other South Asian peoples and absorbed their religious, political and cultural ideas as well as their institutions and these later influenced the development of Thailand's culture and national identity.

The Tai People

The Tai people originally lived in southwest China and migrated into the main part of Southeast Asia over many centuries. The first mention of their existence in the region is a 12th century AD inscription at Angkor Wat, which refers to syam or "dark brown" people as being vassals of the Khmer monarch. This is how Thailand became known as Siam and its people the Siamese.

Sukhothai

Ayutthaya

In 1238 a Tai chieftain declared his independence from the Khmer and established a kingdom at Sukhothai in the broad valley of the Mae Nam River in the heart of modern day Thailand.

Sukhothai was succeeded in the 14th century by the kingdom of Ayutthaya. The kingdom of Ayutthaya became very powerful in the 14th & 15th centuries, so much so that it was able to defeat the kingdom of Angkor in 1431 thereby causing its decline. Over the centuries there were a number of conflicts with the Burmese which came to a head in 1767 when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya and totally destroyed it. After a couple of years two national heroes, Taksin and Chakri, soon expelled the invaders and reunified the country under the Chakri Dynasty. In 1782, Chakri established his new capital in Bangkok. He was later given the title of Rama I and was the first king of the Chakri dynasty which has held power to this day.

20thth Century

The Modern Era

19th Century

19th Century

20thth Century

During the nineteenth century it was the European powers, rather than Thailand's traditional enemies, that posed the greatest threat to the kingdom's survival. Thai success in preserving the country's independence (it was the only Southeast Asian country to do so) was in part a result of the desire of Britain and France for a stable buffer state between their dominions in Burma, Malaya and Indochina. More significantly though was the willingness of Thailand's monarchs, Mongkut (Rama IV, 1851-68) and Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910), to negotiate openly with the European powers and to adopt European style reforms that modernized the country and won it sovereign status. However Siam, as it was then known, paid a high price for its independence losing control over Cambodia and Laos to France and ceding the northern states of the Malay Peninsula to Britain.

As a result of European intervention by 1910 the area of Southeast Asia under Thai control was a fraction of what it had been a century earlier. In the early decades of the twentieth century, Thailand's political system, armed forces and economy underwent drastic changes. Many wealthy Thais studied overseas and a small, Western educated elite with less traditional ideas emerged. In 1932 a bloodless coup d'etat by military officers and civil servants ended the absolute monarchy and inaugurated Thailand's constitutional era. Thailand changed its name from Siam in 1949.

the modern era

Since the far reaching changes of 1932 progress toward a stable, democratic political system has been erratic. Politics has been dominated by rival military cliques headed by powerful generals. These cliques have caused frequent coups d'etat and have imposed prolonged periods of martial law on the country. Parliamentary institutions, as defined by the fourteen constitutions written between 1932 and 1987, and competition among civilian politicians have generally been facades for military governments. Today the country has a fledgling democracy, watched over by the military and the new king who has just taken over the reins from H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 9th King of the Chakri Dynasty, who was the country’s longest reigning monarch until his death in 2016.

Physical, Sea and air features (The limitations and Climate)

Mountains and Plains of the North

Central Plains

This region is home to the densest and largest sediment plains in Thailand. The most important rivers here are the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Tha Jean, Pa Sak, and Bang Pa Kong Rivers. With these river lines and the flatlands of central Thailand, there is no wonder this area is an important agricultural asset to the country.

The North of Thailand has many high mountains and is the source of many Rivers that become the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Salawin Rivers.

Notable mountains in the area are Luang Phra Bang, Daen Lao, Thanon Thong Chai, Phee Pun Nam, Khao Khun Tan, and Phetchaburi. The tallest one is doi inthanon in ChiangMai, coming in at an incredible 2,565 meters above sea level.

Northeastern Plateaus

This region is home to the densest and largest sediment plains in Thailand. The most important rivers here are the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Tha Jean, Pa Sak, and Bang Pa Kong Rivers. With these river lines and the flatlands of central Thailand, there is no wonder this area is an important agricultural asset to the country.

High Mountains of the West

Sparse narrow plains weave between the dominating mountains of the west. The Thanon Thong Chai and Ta Naw Sri Mountains are the sources of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai Rivers, which eventually merge into the Mae Klong River.

Mountains and Coastal Plains of the East

Mountains, Plateaus, Coastal Plains and Islands of the South

Southern Thailand sits on a narrow peninsula. Two beach plains to the east and the west are divided by tall mountain ranges running through the center of the peninsula. Notable mountains in the area are San Ka Ra Kiri (which borders Malaysia) Phuket, and nakhon Si Thammarat. There are also many smaller rivers such as the Kra Buri, Trang, Kirirat, Ta Pee, Pak Panang, and Klok. To the east is the island of Phuket and to the west lie Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan.

To the north of the region are high mountains and coastal plains, the east is river plains, the middle is a jagged sierra and rolling plains, and the south is coastal plains. Between the Ban Tad and Chanthaburi Mountains is a narrow plain, perfect for growing fruit. The Bang Pa Kong River flows through the region to the Gulf of Thailand. The shoreline is covered with beautiful Beaches and offshore sits the Islands of Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Shi Chang.

Located at 20 degrees north latitude, Thailand is generally hot and humid with a climate that is classified as tropical monsoon. A pronounced rainy season lasts from July to October. From November to February, the northeast monsoon brings a cooler, drier period, when the humidity drops from an average high of 95 percent to an average low of 58 percent. During this season, temperatures typically range from the mid-60s in the early morning to the mid-80s during the day. The period from March to June is Bangkok's summer, which is usually hot and humid; temperatures can reach 100° Fahrenheit.

Climate

climate

people and culture

Population/Demographics

-68,977,400

Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Ethnic groups

Major indigenous and minority groups include the 1.4 million Khmers, 1.5 million Malay Muslims, 13 million Thai Isan/Thai Lao, 9.5 million Chinese (about 14%), 923,257 highland indigenous groups, and 10,000 indigenous sea nomad groups.

• Thai 75% •Chinese 14% •other 11%

Throughout the country, the most important values that Thai people hold to are respect, self-control, and a non-confrontational attitude. Losing face by showing anger or by telling a lie is a source of great shame for Thai people. In general, displays of emotion in public are viewed in a very negative light. No matter how frustrated or upset a person might feel, he or she will always strive to maintain a positive and friendly attitude, a sense of humor, and a smile. Respect for elders and for those in higher social positions is also important. Hierarchies of social status characterize nearly every interaction. Children are expected to respect their parents and teachers. The young must show deference to the elderly. Those with highly prestigious positions in society, such as doctors, important public figures, and monks are almost revered. Family is central to Thai life. Although many newly-married couples will set up their own households, it is not uncommon for extended family to live with them. Often, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles will all live in the same household and help to raise children and provide for the family. Children are expected to show great respect for their parents, and they maintain close ties, even well into adulthood. Although Thailand’s family life and society has been traditionally male-dominated, women are granted considerable respect. Recent laws and legislation have allowed women more freedom to move out of traditional roles and into professions such as politics, medicine, and business. Respect and equal rights for women has, in recent decades, become an important part of Thailand’s law and values. Another concept that is very important in Thai culture is sanuk. Sanuk is a wide-reaching idea that embodies the playfulness and sense of humor that is so central to life in Thailand. It could refer to a spontaneous and joyful meeting with someone on the street, or a humorous pun made at just the right moment. The sense of humor and joie de vivre captured in sanuk is central to the Thai way of life.

traditions

BELIEFS

Daily life for the Thai people is governed by a whole range of other beliefs. One example of this is the high respect shown to snakes, which stems from the story of the seven-headed cobra that protected Buddha from torrential rains during his meditation. To prove their respect for life, Thai people purchase caged birds then give them their freedom. Another important tradition is that of making flower offerings. In temples, in vehicles, at marriages and births, or to mark any other happy event in life, it is considered polite to offer flower garlands, lotus buttonholes or flower arrangements. The Thai people are also very fond of lucky charms. Images of Buddha, wooden bracelets and amulets are particularly popular forms of these. To finish on this subject, before constructing any house or building, a spirit house must first be built. This is a sort of miniature dwelling to be maintained and honored with offerings.

Languages

In Thailand, there are 62 ethnolinguistic groups speaking five different language families. 97% of people in Thailand speak Thai as one of their major home languages, according to the 2000 Census. In border districts, it's likely that many residents speak Burmese, Karen, or Malay in addition to Thai.

religions

Although Thailand guarantees freedom of religion, and many religions are represented in the country, 95 percent of the population is Theravada Buddhist. Muslims comprise about 4 percent of the population. There is also a small number of Christians in Thailand.

Settlement

PATTERNS

Regions

Thailand can be divided into four major regions—the north, northeast (also known as Isan), centre, and south (southern peninsula). Two additional subregions are the eastern seaboard, which straddles the central and northeast regions, and the west, which is part of the southern peninsula. These regions (phak) were formally recognized as distinct cultural, linguistic, and administrative entities during the process of building a unified country in the late 19th century, and the northern and northeastern ones, as well as part of the far southern peninsula, correspond to what had been semiautonomous domains within the Siamese empire prior to the reign of King Chulalongkorn (reigned 1868–1910). The two subregions have distinct characteristics.

NORTH

The mountainous provinces located in the upper part of the northern region are often referred to collectively as Lan Na Thai, from the name for the loosely structured federation of principalities, with its capital at Chiang Mai, that existed in the area until the end of the 19th century. The people of Lan Na Thai speak the Kammüang (Northern Thai) dialect and follow Buddhist traditions akin to those practiced in Myanmar. The mountains of the north are also home to many upland minority groups.

Eastern seaboard

The eastern seaboard subregion, stretching along the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand, is undulating and hilly and extends eastward from Bangkok to the Cambodian border. The region contains significant numbers of people living along the border with Cambodia who speak Khmer or Khmer-related languages and follow cultural traditions related to the Khmer.

The majority of peoples living in the northeast region, which corresponds to the Khorat Plateau, share linguistic, cultural, and religious traditions with the Lao living across the Mekong River. Until the late 19th century this region was made up of relatively independent realms. In the early 20th century the region was officially designated as Isan, a term derived from Sanskrit meaning “northeast.” The Lao-speaking people of this region, who constitute the large majority of the population, differentiate themselves not only from the Lao of Laos but also from the central Thai by referring to themselves as Khon Isan.

The Central Plain, occupying most of the Chao Phraya basin, is the political, economic, and cultural core of old Siam and present-day Thailand, and it is home to those who speak dialects closely related to Standard Thai. Historically, the people of central Thailand have followed a Buddhist tradition closely linked to that of the Khmer of Cambodia. Commercial and industrial activity is heavily concentrated in the region, especially in Bangkok, and economic growth has been faster there than elsewhere. This rapidly growing economic heartland continues to be a strong magnet, attracting people from other parts of the country, particularly from the northeast, who seek greater economic and social opportunities. Thus, while Standard Thai is the dominant language of Bangkok, Chinese and Isan (Lao) dialects are also spoken by a substantial number of people in the city.

The eastern seaboard subregion, stretching along the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand, is undulating and hilly and extends eastward from Bangkok to the Cambodian border. The region contains significant numbers of people living along the border with Cambodia who speak Khmer or Khmer-related languages and follow cultural traditions related to the Khmer.

Centre

Northeast (Isan)

Rural settlement

Southern peninsula

The upper part of the southern-peninsula region, also called Pak Tai, has a distinctive identity linked to the historical role of towns such as Nakhon Si Thammarat, once known as Ligor. Because of the region’s historical ties to the later Siamese kingdoms, the language and customs of the southern Thai are similar to those of the Thai of central Thailand. The lower part of the southern region is inhabited by Malay-speaking Thai, most of whom are Muslims. The southern region has also attracted a large number of Chinese migrants, especially to work in the tin industry. Today the largest city in the south, Hat Yai, which serves as the centre of trade with Malaysia, is populated primarily by Sino-Thai.

WesT

The western and southwestern region, consisting mostly of hilly to mountainous terrain along the Myanmar border, is still sparsely populated. The upland Karen, who have long lived in the dense forests of the region, continue to engage in shifting cultivation. The western region became politically significant in the last decades of the 20th century as environmental groups pressured the government to ensure that old-growth forests in the area be preserved rather than cut by logging companies or inundated by the reservoirs created by hydroelectric dams.

ECONOMY

With a relatively well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand is highly dependent on international trade, with exports accounting for about two-thirds of GDP. Thailand’s exports include electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The industry and service sectors produce about 90% of GDP. The agricultural sector, comprised mostly of small-scale farms, contributes only 10% of GDP but employs about one-third of the labor force. Thailand has attracted an estimated 3.0-4.5 million migrant workers, mostly from neighboring countries. Over the last few decades, Thailand has reduced poverty substantially. In 2013, the Thai Government implemented a nationwide 300 baht (roughly $10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. Thailand’s economy is recovering from slow growth during the years since the 2014 coup. Thailand’s economic fundamentals are sound, with low inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable public and external debt levels. Tourism and government spending - mostly on infrastructure and short-term stimulus measures – have helped to boost the economy, and The Bank of Thailand has been supportive, with several interest rate reductions. Over the longer term, household debt levels, political uncertainty, and an aging population pose risks to growth.

RESOURCES

AND

MINERALS

One of the world's top manufacturers of tin, gypsum, cement, and feldspar is Thailand. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are some of the country's additional mineral resources. Additionally, the nation possesses large reserves of zinc, iron, gold, and copper.

SOURCES:

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‌History & Geography & Geology. (n.d.). Www.tourismthailand.org. https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/plan-your-trip-history-and-geography-geology

‌Thailand | World Directory of Minorities & Indigenous Peoples. (n.d.). Minority Rights Group. https://minorityrights.org/country/thailand/