Thailand

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Thailand, or Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Its neighbours are Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. The country's name was Siam until June 24 1939.[1] It was again called Siam between 1945 and May 11 1949, when it changed back to Thailand. The word Thai (ไทย) comes from the ethnic group in the centre of Thailand. The capital city is Bangkok. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was not ruled by Western countries due to its westernised system of government at that time.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. It has a King as a head of state. The present king is Bhumibol Adulyadej. He has been the head of state for longer than other heads of state (kings) today.

Most of the people of Thailand (95%) follow the religion called Buddhism. However, a small number, mostly in the southern part of the country, follow the religion Islam. Other religions in Thailand are Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Now, some of the Muslims in the south have begun fighting the government of Thailand, because they want to be more independent (free of the control of another country).

Contents

[change] History

Many people believe that the first Thai state was the Buddhist kingdom named Sukhothai founded in 1238. Sukhothai achieved independence from the kingdom of Cambodia.

A century later, a bigger Thai kingdom named Ayuthaya appeared in the South of Sukhothai. Later Sukhothai became a part of Ayuthaya. Ayuthaya existed for more than 400 years before its fall by the attack of a Burmese kingdom.

A Thai soldier of Chinese origin then founded a new capital city at Thonburi, and became King Tāksin. Thonburi was the capital for a short period.

The current era, Rattanakosin, started on the foundation of Bangkok as the capital city by King Rama I of Chakri Dynasty.

Before 1932, Thailand was an absolute monarchy, meaning the King had total power in the country. On June 24, 1932, a group of people staged a coup and changed Thailand to a constitutional monarchy. It was not until 1973 that Thai people vote for a Prime Minister in an election. There were coups both before and after this year.

On September 19, 2006, the army staged another coup d'état and took control from Thaksin Shinawatra's government.

[change] Provinces

Thailand is divided into 77 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), which make up 5 groups of provinces. There are also 2 special governed districts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and Pattaya. The 77 provinces are as follows:

Thailand provinces
Map of Thailand

[change] Central

  1. Ang Thong
  2. Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon), Special Governed District of
  3. Chai Nat
  4. Kanchanaburi
  5. Lopburi
  6. Nakhon Nayok
  7. Nakhon Pathom
  8. Nonthaburi
  9. Pathum Thani
  10. Phetchaburi
  11. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  12. Prachuap Khiri Khan
  13. Ratchaburi
  14. Samut Prakan
  15. Samut Sakhon
  16. Samut Songkhram
  17. Saraburi
  18. Sing Buri
  19. Suphan Buri

[change] East

  1. Chachoengsao
  2. Chanthaburi
  3. Chonburi
  4. Prachinburi
  5. Rayong
  6. Sa Kaeo
  7. Trat

[change] North

  1. Chiang Mai
  2. Chiang Rai
  3. Kamphaeng Phet
  4. Lampang
  5. Lamphun
  6. Mae Hong Son
  7. Nakhon Sawan
  8. Nan
  9. Phayao
  10. Phetchabun
  11. Phichit
  12. Phitsanulok
  13. Phrae
  14. Sukhothai
  15. Tak
  16. Uthai Thani
  17. Uttaradit
Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Mai Province

[change] Northeast (Isan)

Main page: Isan
  1. Amnat Charoen
  2. Bueng Kan
  3. Buri Ram
  4. Chaiyaphum
  5. Kalasin
  6. Khon Kaen
  7. Loei
  8. Maha Sarakham
  9. Mukdahan
  10. Nakhon Phanom
  11. Nakhon Ratchasima
  12. Nong Bua Lamphu
  13. Nong Khai
  14. Roi Et
  15. Sakon Nakhon
  16. Si Sa Ket
  17. Surin
  18. Ubon Ratchathani
    Phra Borommathat Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand
  19. Udon Thani
  20. Yasothon

[change] South

  1. Chumphon
  2. Krabi
  3. Nakhon Si Thammarat
  4. Narathiwat
  5. Pattani
  6. Phang Nga
  7. Phatthalung
  8. Phuket
  9. Ranong
  10. Satun
  11. Songkhla
  12. Surat Thani
  13. Trang
  14. Yala

NOTE: In italics [1], that province represents the Greater Bangkok sub-region; in italics [2], that province represents the West sub-region.

See also: List of cities in Thailand.

[change] References

[change] Footnotes

  1. ↑ Thailand (Siam) History, CSMngt-Thai.

[change] Further reading

[change] Other pages

[change] Other websites

 
Countries and territories of Asia
Afghanistan  · Armenia2  · Azerbaijan1  · Bahrain  · Bangladesh  · Bhutan  · Brunei  · Cambodia  · China (PRC)  · Cyprus2  · East Timor  · Gaza Strip  · Georgia1  · Hong Kong3  · India  · Indonesia  · Iran  · Iraq  · Israel  · Japan  · Jordan  · Kashmir4  · Kazakhstan1  · Kuwait  · Kyrgyzstan  · Laos  · Lebanon  · Macau3  · Malaysia  · Maldives  · Mongolia  · Myanmar  · Nepal  · North Korea  · Oman  · Pakistan  · Philippines  · Qatar  · Russia1  · Saudi Arabia  · Singapore  · South Korea  · Sri Lanka  · Syria  · Taiwan (ROC)4  · Tajikistan  · Thailand  · Turkey1  · Turkmenistan  · United Arab Emirates  · Uzbekistan  · Vietnam  · West Bank  · Yemen
1. Includes territory in both Europe and Asia. 2. Usually thought of Europe for cultural, political and historical reasons. 3. Special territories. 4. Disputed territories.
 
Countries and territories of ASEAN
Brunei  · Cambodia  · Indonesia  · Laos  · Malaysia  · Myanmar  · Philippines  · Singapore  · Thailand  · Vietnam

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