Historical Setting
The Earliest Inhabitants
The area which is now Thailand
has been populated ever since the dawn of civil ation in Asia, The first humans
in this region were hunter-gatherers who lived by hunting wild animals and
gathering whatever grew wild in the forests. Later on, man leamt to modify
nature, growing cereals such as rice and breeding livestock. Rice growing communities sprang up. Metal cast
pottery making also became highly-developed skills as these pre
settlements prospered. Cast bronze technology in the northeastern
Thailand dales from around 2000 B.C., making the prehistoric achiever
Thailand just as advanced as those of India and China.
Beginning in the 1960s, archaeo-logical excavations in various parts of Thailand have unearthed many
interesting and important sites, a large number of which are prehistoric. There
are several Stone Age settlements. the most notable being Ban Kao in
Kanchanaburi Province , Non Nok Tha
in Khon Kaen Province , and Ban Chiang
in Udon Thani Province .
Prehistoric burial site at Ban Chiang in northeast Thailand
The spectacular finds at Ban Chiang
include bronze utensils and ornaments, painted pottery, and bimciailic (bronze and iron) weapons.
Ban Chiang was apparenlly settled as far back as 6,000 years ago and was
continually inhabited for some 4.000 years. It was an agricultural community, with skilled metal workers and potters.
King Narai of Ayutthaya receives an embassy from Louis XIV in 1685
Artistically, the glory of Ban Chiang can be found in the large amount of painted
potlery found at the site; the most graceful shapes and intricate designs
appear on pottery dating back to the 300 B.C.- 200 A.D. period- The people of
Ban Chiang comprised only one among many prehistoric communilies in
Thailand , which makes me country one
of the cradles of Asian civilization and an area which was inhabited for
thousands of years before the emergence of the first Thai states.
Painted Ban Chiang pottery, dating back over 2,000 years
Line Historical Setting
Historical Background
Geography
Topography
Climate
Population
Religion
Language
Government
Economic
Flag
National Colours
National Anthem
Royal Anthem
National Emblem
National Dress
National Day
Public Holidays
More Historical Background
Historical Setting
Mon and Khmer
Emergence Thais
Sukhothai Century
Ayutthaya Period
King Taksin
More Historical Setting
Land and People
The Family
Village Leadership
Social Values
Individual Life Cycles
Seasonal Cycle
Leisure Activities
Urban Life
Bangkok 2000
Leisure in the City
Urban Values
Social Welfare
Existing Social Welfare
Role of Women
More Land and People
The Arts 2000's
Traditional Manual
Painting
Sculpture
Lacquerware &Mother-Pearl
Pottery
Weaving : ThaiSilk
Nielloware
Silverware
SUPPORT
Music
Symphony Orchestra
Khon
Lakhon
Nang Yai
Nang Talung
Likay
Architecture
Thai house
Literature
Mural painting
More The Arts 2000's
Webmaster