May 23rd 2005 A dry, coursebook-like presentation of facts from the 18th century to modern times. A HISTORY OF THAILAND Third Edition A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand’s political, economic, social and cultural history, from the early settlements in the Chao Phraya basin to today. do a good job, within the constraints of the book's length, of explaining how an array of feudal city-states were eventually consolidated and, basically, colonized by Bangkok powers, resulting eventually in the nation-state of Thailand. “The American era and development, 1940s to 1960s” and “Ideologies, 1940s to 1970s,” this jumping back and forth in time doesn’t exactly make it a very accessible read either. No history is definitive or free from bias but what is put forward in this book seems to accord pretty well with my own experience in the country both in the. What tourism affects. The earliest inhabitants of what is now Thailand were hunter-gatherers. The latter are found from extreme northeastern India in the west to northern Vietnam in the east and from southern China in the north to as far south as the central Malay… Early Empires. He is now an independent writer, researcher, and translator. Its also the only up-to-date socio-economic history of Thailand I could find on international bookshelves so this makes it somewhat of a reference text for the layman. Religion, song, sport, and comedy broadened the class range of the social mirror and breached old psychological”, “barriers inherited from the sakdina era.”, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, Power, Sister! Thailand was one of the only countries in South and Southeast Asia that avoided colonization during the nineteenth century. After the country went through a peaceful transformation in 1932, sovereign power came to belong to the Thai people, with the King as the Head of State who is above partisan politics and discharges his role in accordance with the country’s Constitution. In that aim, he succeeds. The oldest known mention of their existence in the region by the exonym Siamese is in a 12th-century A.D. inscription at the Khmer temple complex of This opacity makes this (text)book an important introduction to the Thai history. I will have a look at another take on Thai history soon. Refresh and try again. Whether they are making their way to Thailand’s stunning beaches or trekking through the lush green jungles in the north, tourists are exploring all that the country has to offer. Cambridge University Press, Apr 20, 2005 - History - 301 pages 1 Review This lively, accessible book is the first new history of Thailand in English for two decades. The bulk, however, i. Their tendency to place chapters on socio-cultural changes for each era before corresponding chapters on the politico-economic events of the age also tends to break the historic narrative. However about 4,000 BC they began farming. Like...nothing literally. The book was great, with a lot of details since the creation of Thailand to the present day and all that jazz. Crucial details are glossed over and facts are distorted to paint an on-the-run criminal into somewhat of a wronged hero. Here is a super brief history of Thailand in just a few minutes. It does explain a lot about why Thai people think and behave as they do. A solid history of modern Thailand, running from the 1700s to the present day ~2009. This is not academic text, however, but easy to read textbook. The bulk, however, is spent on modern Thailand, with a brief chapter added in the second edition on the post-2006 era after which Thaksin was exiled, the military coup, yellow vs red shirt protests, etc. Drawing on new Thai-language research, this second edition brings the Thai story up to date and includes a new section on the 2006 coup and the restoration of an elected government in 2008. History Ancient History. All in all a solid book to learn about the history of the region if you plan to travel there and want some context of the history of the region. It is wholly within the tropics and encompasses diverse ecosystems. That said, I have definitely read better national history books for other countries, and regret that I didn't get quite as much as I would have hoped out of this one. The history of Thailand from 1932 to 1973 was dominated by military dictatorships which were in power for much of the period. Finally, they show how Thailand's path is still being contested by those who believe in change from above and those who fight for democracy and liberal values. Breaking up the chronology also in the subchapters exacerbates this issue. It is difficult to follow because while it follows general chronology many sections go back to time frames previosuly covered by there could be more written to connect each section to one another. At first what is now Thailand was divided into small states called Meuang. The book makes light of Thaksin Shinawatra’s corruption schemes, along with the destructions inflicted by his paid red-shirt supporters from 2008 to 2014, while people who protested against his government are incorrectly portrayed as old power players who felt threatened by his office. ___ History of Thailand Prehistory The earliest known inhabitation of present-day Thailand dates to the Paleolithic period, about 20,000 years ago. In Thailand: History The Thai are descended from a much larger group of Tai-speaking peoples. Like...it was impossible for me to intellectually persuade myself to express at least a glimpse of interest. A history that spans the early regional kingdoms (briefly) through the early unified kingdoms of Ayutthaya and Thonburi and the 200-plus-years-old Bangkok Chakri dynasty up to King Bhumipol's late 20th-century reign and the 2001 election of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister. do a good job, within the constraints of the book's length, of explaining how an array of feudal city-states were eventually consolidated and, basically, colonized by Bangkok powers, res. Since then, there have been over 20 military coups in Thailand’s history. Look no further. An influx of “immigrants” is noted at intervals, and that’s about it. A history that spans the early regional kingdoms (briefly) through the early unified kingdoms of Ayutthaya and Thonburi and the 200-plus-years-old Bangkok Chakri dynasty up to King Bhumipol's late 20th-century reign and the 2001 election of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister. It also only really covers the last 150 years of Thailand, so it is most certainly not a history of Thailand. Thip Samai Pad Thai Restaurant in Phra Nakorn, Thailand. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Welcome back. box. Gave a very readable account of the complexities of Thailand's politics and economy. Thai food originated with the people who emigrated from the southern Chinese provinces into modern day Thailand many centuries ago. The modern history of Thailand is closely connected to the Vietnam War and the cold war and should be of special interest to America even though there are no major political problems associated with our relationship today. Chris Baker taught Asian history at Cambridge University, and has lived in Thailand for over twenty years. By 100 AD they were practicing Theravada Buddhism. At the end, however, I couldn't care less. The history of “Thailand” has been written and re-written many times, often times ignoring or papering over local histories, beliefs, identities, and languages, in order to produce a cohesive national narrative of unity and uniformity. T… I was h. I can’t agree with what it says in the blurb, that this is a “a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history.” - I found the writing rather dry, and by dividing the book into chapters like e.g. In the second part we are mainly presented with a rather lonely Thailand, except for the American and Japanese involvement, and then towards the end of the book, there’s the tourism and the issue of globalization. The first third of the book is spent on pre-20th century Thailand -- sketching in particular the structure of its monarchy and the geopolitical region it dominated, the Mekong (stretching to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma). And because lèse majesté laws limit often people voice their true opinions on current events. (Control of the nation state is still contested between forces with a patriarchal belief in change from above, and advocates of democracy and liberal values.). The between-world-wars transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy and the later competitions among royalists, the military, and rising civilian business and political interests are big parts of the story. A History of Thailand by Chris Baker, May 23, 2005, Cambridge University Press edition, Paperback in English It provides a detailed context the for cultural, political and economic history of Thailand and to a lesser degree southeast Asia. and cultivated rice during the fourth millennium B.C. Certainly could have been more in-depth on recent developments (since the 1950s), but in a short book it provided a great overview. A Brief History of Thailand Explained in 5 minutes. Breaking up the chronology also in the subchapters exacerbates this issue. Textbook used for one of the University of London courses on SE Asia. Well-written, very readable. One should take into account that the book has a somewhat leftist bias - about what one should expect in a book by two professors - but, with all that, it is certainly an excellent source as an introduction to the history of that fascinating country. Under his tenure, Thailand covered parts of Burma, all regions of present-day Laos, Kedah province in Malaysia and Cambodia. The authors also survey the country's transformation accompanying massive social evolution over recent decades. My biggest frustration is that the authors did not often take the time to step back from reporting the facts to point out trends across times (so each described event felt disjointed from everything that happened before) or to explain how events in Thailand fit into broader global trends. I liked the overviews provided at the end of each section. Pasuk Phongpaichit is Distinguished Professor of Economics at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. A solid history of modern Thailand, running from the 1700s to the present day ~2009. Covering the past three centuries of Thai history, this book reveals how a landscape of sparsely populated forest and jungle was transformed into villages and paddy fields, with a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. Baker and his co-author give a 35,000 foot view of Thai history, focusing on the 1500s as a rough starting point, and continuing through the modern era when Yinglak served as Prime Minister. The Kingdom of Thailand (known as Siam until 1939) was ruled by the Khmers, based in what is now neighboring Cambodia, during the 11th and 12th centuries. It demonstrates how throughout the twentieth century, Thailand has been drawn into the, Covering the past three centuries of Thai history, this book reveals how a landscape of sparsely populated forest and jungle was transformed into villages and paddy fields, with a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. During this era, laws were crea… History and Origins. A remarkably frank look at Thai history, and one which has apparently largely displaced David Wyatt's more classic text as a standard introduction to the topic. History of Thailand . Along the way, we are given glimpses of some truly interesting elements of Thai society that could be explored in depth (the revolution of the 1930s, the mysterious death of a king in the 1940s), but aside from the role. Baker and Phongpaichit's fine work is a good place to start learning about all that. Here, we examine a brief history of tourism in Thailand. It reads more like a first year history textbook - VERY dry - than an enjoyable history that you would want to read in your free time. Archaeology has revealed evidence in the Khorat Plateau in the northeast of prehistoric inhabitants who may have forged bronze implements as early as 3000 B.C. This is one of those books. The Tai ethnic group migrated into mainland Southeast Asia over a period of centuries. Great book on Thai history. It demonstrates how throughout the twentieth century, Thailand has been drawn into the international system, the American camp in the Cold War, the economic gambit of rising Japan, and more recently, the forces of globalization. It is a content rich book. Thailand has been through many changes in the 20th and 21st centuries as a rather poor and rural society attempted to cope with imperialism, war, immigration, modernization, the Cold War, fledgling democracy and globalization. Start by marking “A History of Thailand” as Want to Read: Error rating book. The book makes light of Thaksin Shinawatra’s corruption schemes, along with the destructions inflicted by his paid red-shirt supporters from 2008 to 2014, while people who protested against his government are incorrectly portrayed as old power players who felt threatened by his office. Dry, but serviceable, and I read it at the tail end of my trip and wish I'd done it at the beginning, because there was a lot of history I could have used to appreciate what I saw, especially the ruins! 20 New Books on Women’s History. Limited because of what one can say and write in Thailand. A brief history of Thailand Below you will find a few key dates that offer some perspective on the history of Thailand and how the country has developed over the last thousand years or so. The first third of the book is spent on pre-20th century Thailand -- sketching in particular the structure of its monarchy and the geopolitical region it dominated, the Mekong (stretching to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma). The current monarch, Maha Vajiralongkorn, is the tenth in the Chakri dynasty to take the throne. The path hasn't been smooth, as the disturbances in 2010 illustrate. Overall, this is an important read of the information it contains, but less for the pleasure of the writing and analysis. 2 The old order in transition 1760s to 1860s, 4 Peasants merchants and officials 1870s to 1930s, 6 The American era and development 1940s to 1960s, 8 Globalization and mass society 1970s onwards, the strong state and the wellbeing of the people. A HISTORY OF THAILAND This lively, accessible book is the first new history of Thailandin Englishfortwodecades.DrawingonnewThai-languageresearch,it rangeswidelyoverpolitical,economic,social,andculturalthemes. This book about Thailand’s history was what I expected. Don't take too much notice of the right wing academic reviews, that are seeking to wash over the tremendouys influence the US has had on this country both positive and negative. This book explores how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree peasants was transformed and examines how the monarchy managed the foundation of a new nation-state at the turn of the twentieth century. Good history textbooks so often make for poor casual reading. Thailand has been through many changes in the 20th and 21st centuries as a rather poor and rural society attempted to cope with imperialism, war, immigra. 'In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit, two respected Bangkok-based scholars, offer a lively, highly readable account of modern Thai history, the first such history in English for two decades.' The authors trace two main themes: 1) the strong nation state rising against exterior threats (colonialism, communism, etc) in which citizens serve the nation as obedient children and 2) a nation that is made to serve the wellbeing of the people who yearn for greater equality and participation. Enjoyed it far more than Wyatt's version, and I got a far more in-depth look at the early Rattanakosin Period. In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. Read it before you go! Thailand is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. You can also check out Thailand timeline – a chronology of key events. Modern Thai politics is notorious for being incomprehensible to outsiders, since the patterns do not often line up with those we are used to seeing elsewhere in the world. From about 500 BC the people of what is now Thailand used iron. Look no further. Its also the only up-to-date socio-economic history of Thailand I could find on international bookshelves so this makes it somewhat of a reference text for the layman. The first military coup in Thailand took place in 1932, birthing a modern nation state called Siam. This book explores how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree peasants was transformed and examines how the monarchy managed the foundation of a new nation-state at the turn of the twentieth century. To the Thai, the name has mostly been Mueang Thai. At first the farmers used stone tools but about 3,000 BC bronze was discovered. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The capital of Thailand is Bangkok, and the city’s metropolitan area is the preeminent urban center in the country. by Cambridge University Press. Along the way, we are given glimpses of some truly interesting elements of Thai society that could be explored in depth (the revolution of the 1930s, the mysterious death of a king in the 1940s), but aside from the role of CHinee migrants ot the country, Baker chooses to focus on the broad brushstrokes. The word Siam (Thai: สยาม RTGS: Sayam) may have originated from Pali (suvaṇṇabhÅ«mi, "land of gold") or Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma, "dark") or Mon ရာမည (rhmañña, "stranger"), probably the same root as Shan and Ahom. Emerging Tai Kingdoms. Before Bangkok -- The old order in transition, 1760s to 1860s -- Reforms, 1850s to 1910s -- Peasants, merchants, and officials, 1870s to 1930s -- Nationalisms, 1910s to 1940s -- The American Era and development, 1940s to 1960s -- Ideologies, 1940s to 1970s -- Globalization and mass society, 1970s onwards -- Politics, 1970s onwards. A solid account, and a real step towards a people's history of one of the world's most interesting nations. To see what your friends thought of this book. Unfortunately, readers seeking hints of "Bangkok 8" may find themselves a little disappointed. For up to one million years prior to the arrival of Homo sapiens, the region was home to Homo erectus, such as Lampang Man, whose fossilized remains were discovered in 1999. However the ancestors of modern Thais are believed to have come from southern China. A concise and surprisingly accessible history of Thailand, with the emphasis on the modern era. He moved the capital city to Bangkok, revived the country’s economy and restored what remained of the Ayutthaya artistic heritage. This opacity makes this (. I really enjoyed this telling of Thai history. The United States and Thailand ’s first official diplomatic interaction occurred in 1833 when they signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which was the United States’ first treaty with an … I can’t agree with what it says in the blurb, that this is a “a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history.” - I found the writing rather dry, and by dividing the book into chapters like e.g. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Happy Women's History Month! You'll also find little sympathy for virtually any figures in Thai history, a pleasant change from the official hero-worship that masks as "education" within the country. Beginning with the late Ayutthaya period the authors show how Bangkok rose from Ayutthaya’s destruction in 1767, became a cosmopolitan trade center, and center of regional economic and military might. (A Concise) History of Thailand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Thai peoples who originally lived in southwestern China migrated into mainland Southeast Asia over a period of many centuries. The king developed the governing house that has continued to the present. From 1939 to 1942 Prime Minister, Phibun, issued a series of ‘state decrees’ intended to create a civilised, uniformed and unified country, which would, in turn, help the war efforts. They describe the dramatic changes wrought by a booming economy, globalization, and the evolution of mass society. A very decent introduction to the history of Thailand that should provide you with a reasonable understanding of the primary paradigms that have defined, and continue to shape, the evolution and progress of Thailand's people and culture. Perhaps better titled as "An Economic History of Thailand", the work suffers from its over-indulgence in my last favorite favored aspect of modern historiography. They trace how a Buddhist cosmography adapted to new ideas of time and space, and a traditional polity was transformed into a new nation-state under a strengthened monarchy. The between-world-wars transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy and the later competitions among royalists, the military, and rising civilian business and political interests are big parts of the story. I read it because I was interested in Thai history and wanted to know about its people and culture more. This seems to be the primary overview of Thai history available (in English, at least), and so definitely is the place to go to get a detailed background on the people and events that have shaped the country. Historically there were many Szechwan influences in Thai cuisine, although over the centuries many … We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. A remarkably frank look at Thai history, and one which has apparently largely displaced David Wyatt's more classic text as a standard introduction to the topic. A history of military coups. Crucial details are glossed over and facts are distorted. But efforts at creating national unity through enforced uniformity have not gone unchallenged. If you don’t have 15 minutes to read, I am sure you have 5 minutes to watch! Be the first to ask a question about A History of Thailand. This is one of those books. If you're looking for a readable and historically accurate introduction to Thai history, this is it. They grew rice. Enjoyed it far more than Wyatt's version, and I got a far more in-depth look at the early Rattanakosin Pe. This is a fine account of Thailand's dynamic evolution, conveyed with spare, action-oriented writing. Beginning with the late Ayutthaya period the authors show how Bangkok rose from Ayutthaya’s destruction in 1767, became a cosmopolitan trade center, and cent. A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history. The competing visions of society reflect the whole world's struggles, and shed light on the issues before other countries. Surprisingly, after having read it for years, I can't remember anything. Very good length of book for covering many years of history. Learn more about Thailand, including its history. Does a good job weaving in aspects of geography (rural-urban), economics, social classes and relations, religion, culture, and international affairs, including Chinese migrations, European imperialism, and post-World War II US influence. In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. When I picked up this book I was looking for a brief history of Thailand that might help explain somethings which fell into the "Well I'll be damned!" This book best serves as a textbook, probably for the 101-level of Thai history rather than a deep narrative study. My favorite passages explained how “Thainess” came into being and how language, culture, and race were used to form a new Thai identity for the new state. This seems to be the primary overview of Thai history available (in English, at least), and so definitely is the place to go to get a detailed background on the people and events that have shaped the country. We’d love your help. A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history. And because lèse majesté laws limit often people voice their true opinions on current events. I enjoyed the book and found it useful to me. This is a great improvement over Wyatt's tome, which is more widely read as "the" introductory book, but is really sub-par in its representations of historical realities. The last 10% or so of the text contains very biased and deceitful report of the political conflicts that have been ongoing for the last decade in Thailand. This book was exactly what I wanted, it is certainly not a definitive work but it does provide a brief clear sketch of Thai history as it pertains to the development of modern Thailand. A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history. In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society … Covering the past three centuries of Thai history, this book reveals how a landscape of sparsely populated forest and jungle was transformed into villages and paddy fields, with a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. The Thai language seems to have been spoken in the lower Chao Phraya system and down the upper peninsula, but in practice local dialects varied greatly, and the languages of Bangkok and Chiang Mai were mutually unintelligible. A HISTORY OF THAILAND Third Edition A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand’s political, economic, social and cultural history, from the early settlements in the Chao Phraya basin to today. These authors (finally!) In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. Good history textbooks so often make for poor casual reading. The last 10% or so of the text contains very biased and deceitful report of the political conflicts that have been ongoing for the last decade in Thailand. This is an history of Thailand. This era was under the Chakris who were sworn in on April 6, 1782, alongside the coronation of King Buddha Yot Fa Chulalok or Rama I. What I liked about it was its illustration of how Thailand, as an entity, was constructed, largely through the pressures of a colonial reality, rather than relying on any kind of preconceived notions of what the country is or is not. When I picked up this book I was looking for a brief history of Thailand that might help explain somethings which fell into the "Well I'll be damned!" Yet little is known about the area prior to the 13th century since literary sources are scarce and most of the knowledge we have today is taken from archeology only. Now in its third edition, this book explores how a world of man-darinnoblesandunfreepeasantswastransformedbycolonialism,the This is a great improvement over Wyatt's tome, which is more widely read as "the" introductory book, but is really sub-par in its representations of historical realities. I really enjoyed this telling of Thai history. These authors (finally!) “Khaosai, Somluck, Paveena, and Mum all came from the rural northeast. I recommend it to anyone who wants a brief accessible background as I did.