The history of Thailand is believed to have begun in the Stone Age. In the cliffs, cave paintings have been discovered dating back 3,000 years ago. Many settlements were built throughout Thailand by 2000 BC. In these settlements, people practiced their different methods of agriculture, creating pottery and weaving fabrics. Ancient Thais or “Thais” used rivers as a means of communication and transportation. Several canals soon connected rivers throughout Thailand to provide more routes. Different types of boats were the first means of transportation to transport many goods through markets and towns. Some of the earliest Thai kingdoms originated in the northern hills. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe many colorful and prosperous tribes that lived in the northern hills eventually created the many kingdoms that developed. The most famous kingdoms of the provinces are Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, Chiang Phayao and Chiang Nan. Important kingdoms located in the far northeast were Non Nok Tha and Ban Chiang. The settlement of Ban Chiang began around 3500 BC. By the time 1000 BC had passed, Ban Chiang was now a stunning complexity of brilliant ceramics. Since its later period, between 300 BC and 300 AD, it has achieved a high degree of craftsmanship in bronze and iron tools, bronze and glass jewelry, and painted pottery. Most of the ancient artifacts were discovered beneath burial grounds, where citizens of Ban Chiang buried their own dead along with large quantities of exotic goods. Indian immigrants from the Malay Peninsula had begun arriving in the 3rd century BC. Around the birth of Christ, they had established 10 city-states. The most important city-state was Nakhon Si Thammarat. When a group of people from southern China, known as the Mons, migrated to the Menam Chao Basin, the Mons conquered entire civilized areas. The Mons also adopted Indian crafts and religion. The Mons then founded the kingdom of Dvaravati in Nakhon Pathom in the 6th century. Then they expanded north to Haripunjaya, now known as Lamphun, south to the Malay Peninsula, and west to Burma. There, in Burma, they founded an important state at Pegu. Relatives of Mons, known as the Khmers, settled in the Lower Mekong region and then expanded eastward. A war took place in the central plains in the 9th century and the Khmer defeated the Mons out of the region. Like the Mons, the Khmers adopted Indian religion and crafts. The authority of the king was identified as a sacred power manifested during public ceremonies. The power of the Khmer peaked in the 11th century, until King Anawrahta of Burma pushed the Khmer out of his country, Burma. Despite their expulsion, the Khmers still controlled the majority of Thai territory through their outposts at Lopburi and Phimai. They also controlled their southern states. But in the early 13th century, a revolt in the west marked the emergence of a new group of people who would eventually grow into a large and prosperous empire, subdue the Khmer, and become the center of Thailand: the People from Sukhothai. As the power of Mons and the Khmers weakened, other states gained power and expanded. In 1238, the Thais of Sukhothai both refused to pay the customary water tribute to the Khmer lords, drove the Khmers from their lands andformed a new state. Their new leader became Si Inthratit and he took the throne. Intrathit was more like a well-respected leader than a ruler, and more like a father to the people than a king. Inthratit died in 1270. Under the control of their new king, Ramkhamhaeng, the Sukhothai Kingdom conquered and controlled Khmer territory as far south as Nakhon Si Thammarat. Ramkhamhaeng also created the first Thai alphabet and introduced his people to appreciation for the arts. When his death occurred in 1300, the rapid descent of the Sukhothai kingdom began. First, the provinces around Sukhothai severed all ties with the empire. Then the Mons of Pegu attacked and conquered part of the Malay Peninsula. Eventually, a new state arose from the land, and in 1378 they attacked and conquered the entire Sukhothai Kingdom. Then, from that point on, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, founded in 1350, became the most powerful of all Thai states. Ayutthaya was a state where the king was the lord of all existing life. A royal language was even developed to speak of the king and his family. The Ayutthaya Society was formed under King Trailok. Many nobles of different ranks were ranked and given personal titles based on the amount of land they owned. Commoners were not allowed to have ordinary relations with nobles, or even speak to them. Slavery was common, with victims being prisoners of war. Wars and expansion with Ayutthaya's neighbors characterized Ayutthaya's first two centuries. Once Ayutthaya left Sukhothai, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, also known as Siam, began to conquer the South. In 1431, King Boromarja II plundered the Khmer city of Angkor Thorn and forced the Khmers to settle in Phnom Penh. The Khmers were never again a threat to the Thais. But despite the great and prosperous power of Siam, they failed against the northern kingdom of Chiang Mai. Under the power of King Tilokaraja, Chiang Mai defended itself against each of Siam's attacks. As Siam continued its failed attempts to reduce Chiang Mai to dust, a new threat emerged on Siam's western flank. The ambitious Burmese kings began their march towards the country. Chiang Mai fell to the invaders in 1557. Finally, in 1569, Ayutthaya surrendered in 1569. Sian then became a Burmese territory until 1584, when Prince Naresuan took advantage of a war in Burma and declared Siam's independence against Burma. Naresuan then became king in 1590 and, in just three years, completely drove the Burmese from the entire region. Naresuan became the ruler of a vast and vast region. This includes all of the north and parts of Laos. Over the next century, Siam found itself embroiled in relations with the West. Many Dutch merchants established trade in the south at Pattani in 1601. English traders then arrived in Siam in 1602. European rivalry for port privileges and trade reached its peak under Narai the Great. Siam then sent ambassadors to the King of France, Louis XIV. Louis XIV in return sent an ambassador to Narai. Among the many adventurers who dared to travel across Asia in the 17th century, the most spectacular was an intelligent Greek sailor known as Constantine Phaulkon. Phaulkon was also known as the Falcon of Siam. Phaulkon was an employee of the British East India Company who had immediately attracted the attention of King Narai during trade negotiations. Phaulkon quickly mastered the Thai language and the nuances of court behavior and soon became a special advisor to the king. Siam benefited greatly from his advice and exchangestrade with Europeans. Phaulkon's work with Siam displeased the British, so he turned to the French. The French court asked Phaulkon to persuade King Narai to become a Catholic. Phaulkan's efforts had so angered the Buddhist court that once King Narai died, the next king immediately had Phaulkon beheaded and expelled a large percentage of Europeans from the country. Narai had died in 1688, the Europeans suddenly found themselves in disgrace when several rebellions broke out throughout Siam. The Burmese immediately turned the situation in their favor and took control of the north. A considerably weakened Siam was no match for the Burmese. While the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was experiencing its last period of stability under its king Boromakot, in April 1767, Burmese soldiers set fire to the capital. Officially looted into ruins, a Siamese general known as Taksin was nearby . Taksin gathered many supporters and recaptured the city during that year. However, the destruction of the original Ayutthaya was catastrophic, so much so that Taksin decided to move the capital further downstream, to Thonburi. Taksin received help from two brother generals named Chao Phya Chakri and Chao Phya Surasih, and drove away fierce ships, defended a Burmese attack, and reconquered the north. Taksin's success made him mad and extremely cruel. His generals rejected Taksin from his throne and executed him in 1782. Chao Phya Chakri, known as Rama I, became the new king. He founded the Chakri dynasty, which still exists today. Rama I moved the capital again, this time to the area where Bangkok is today. He built a city based in Ayutthaya and revived Thai literature and art. To recover Thai literature, Rama I mainly appealed to the memories of old Thais who escaped the destruction of Ayutthaya. At this time, Europe was occupied by the Napoleonic Wars. In 1818, following a Portuguese treaty, the new kingdom of Ayutthaya or Siam reestablished trade with the West. Siam generally aimed to obtain privileges and favorable trade conditions. Treaties were concluded with Britain in 1826 and with the United States in 1831. In the meantime, France and Britain began to conquer Siam's neighbors. At that time, Siam was fortunate to benefit from the reigns of two incredible leaders, excellent in the Western way. They preserved the country's independence by initiating vital reforms that modernized and strengthened the nation. The first ruler was King Mongkut, or Rama IV. Rama IV was a widely traveled former monk who hired foreign teachers and built roads. Rama's successor, Chulalongkorn, ruled until 1910. Chulalongkorn got rid of submissive behavior under his presence, improved national and local administration, abolished slavery, and oversaw the development of tramways, railways railways and automobiles while hiring foreign advisors to serve the government. Thailand's next ruler, Rama VI, brought Siam to the Allied side in World War I. His actions led to favorable treaty improvements with France and the United States. Rama VI had also introduced compulsory education and surname, which was a first in Asia. Siam is now catching up with the modern and developed world. However, a restless new social class emerged and allowed the monarchy to advance further. Under Rama VII, Siam's political crisis peaked. In the 1930s, the Great Depression hit rice exports hard, creating financial problems. Rama VII attempted to resolve this.