Thailand

Thailand, or Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Its edges touch 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).

1 History
2 Provinces
3 References
- 3.1 Footnotes
- 3.2 Further reading
4 Other websites

[change] History

Many people believe that the first Thai state was the Buddhist kingdom named Sukhothai founded in 1238. 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 Taksin. 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 a absolute monarchy, the King had full 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'etat and took control from Thaksin Shinawatra's government.

[change] Provinces

Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat) , which made up 5 groups of provinces. There are also 2 special governed districts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and Pattaya. The 75 provinces are as follows:

Thailand provinces

Map of Thailand

[change] Central

Ang Thong
Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon), Special Governed District of [1]
Chai Nat
Kanchanaburi [2]
Lop Buri
Nakhon Nayok
Nakhon Pathom [1]
Nonthaburi [1]
Pathum Thani [1]
Phetchaburi [2]
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Prachuap Khiri Khan [2]
Ratchaburi [2]
Samut Prakan [1]
Samut Sakhon [1]
Samut Songkhram [2]
Saraburi
Sing Buri
Suphan Buri

[change] East

Chachoengsao
Chanthaburi
Chonburi
Prachinburi
Rayong
Sa Kaeo
Trat

[change] North

Phra That Chae Haeng, Nan Province

Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Kamphaeng Phet
Lampang
Lamphun
Mae Hong Son
Nakhon Sawan
Nan
Phayao
Phetchabun
Phichit
Phitsanulok
Phrae
Sukhothai
Tak
Uthai Thani
Uttaradiet

Phra That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom Province

[change] Northeast (Isan)

Amnat Charoen
Buri Ram
Chaiyaphum
Kalasin
Khon Kaen
Loei
Maha Sarakham
Mukdahan
Nakhon Phanom
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nong Bua Lamphu
Nong Khai
Roi Et
Sakon Nakhon
Si Sa Ket
Surin
Ubon Ratchathani
Udon Thani
Yasothon

Architecture in the Srivijayan style. Surat Thani Thailand

[change] South

Chumphon
Krabi
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Narathiwat
Pattani
Phang Nga
Phatthalung
Phuket
Ranong
Satun
Songkhla
Surat Thani
Trang
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.