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The Thai lived in southern China during the Tang Dynasty between 618 and 907 AD. Many moved south to escape the Chinese. The first Thai capital was Sukhothai. When China was overrun by the Mongols in the 1250s, more tribes fled south and set up small kingdoms. A strong leader, Mengrai, established Lan-na. Sukhothai spent so much on its temples that it became weak and Ayutthaya became the capital.

Thai people are used to welcoming visitors. Up to eight million tourists visit here each year. Most visits begin in the noisy streets and exotic palaces and temples of Bangkok, but 90 percent of the population live in farmlands or remote mountain villages. Visitors to Thailand can see local crafts, processions, and festivals there. The forests, waterfalls, rivers, beaches, and islands are also worth a visit.

This is an index to topics discussed in the book 'Thailand.'

The Thai government aims to provide education for all citizens. All schools use the same curriculum. There are more than 40 universities and teachers' colleges. Courses are offered to adults and people with special needs. These include the handicapped or unemployed and those who have not been able to attend school or learn vocational skills. Universities train scientists, engineers, and economists for industry and agro-industry.

In Thailand, people travel long distances to enjoy the special dishes of other regions. Thai chefs serve hot, spicy curries, meat, fish, and vegetables with side dishes and rice or noodles. Snacks are very popular. Vendors sell tiny sweets, such as pancakes and sticky rice in banana leaves, and freshly squeezed fruit juice, sugarcane juice, and coconut milk.

Traditional village life suits the sociable nature of the Thai people. Families and neighbor gather to talk or take part in community events. Crowded city life still pauses to enjoy a parade or holiday, but it is impossible to keep the close community of the village. Ties with extended family have a strong effect on public life. Young children do not usually have lots of toys but are part of the group.

Thais love color and spectacle, brightly decorated processions, and ceremonies, games, and fun. They also love anything new or technological, and they have a serious side that respects parents, king, country, and religion. Water and boats have always been a part of life in Thailand. Produce is sold at canal boat-markets and transported on river barges and seagoing carriers. Takraw is a Thai game played with a rattan ball.

Thailand's capital is known as Bangkok to the world, but Thais call it Krung Thep, or the city of angels. Built on the Chao Phraya river, Bangkok is forty times bigger than any other Thai city. It has the King's Palace and Parliamentary buildings. It is the center of trade, culture, and government. Activity surrounds the temples and gold spires of the old city.

Thailand has many small and medium-sized business enterprises that supply parts for large manufacturing companies. To learn exactly what is needed, small companies visit the large factories. Thailand trades with other members of Association of South East Asian Nations and also welcomes foreign companies who wish to set up business. Thailand earns most foreign exchange from the sale of computer parts.

Thailand is largely an agricultural country. The seven major crops are rice, tapioca, rubber, maize, sugarcane, mung beans, and tobacco leaves. Most of these crops are grown for export. Thai farmers have been able to grow crops to sell on changing markets. Hill farmers are learning how to farm organically, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Technology is improving the quality of dairy foods and livestock.

Thais have a long history of adapting ideas from other countries to their own culture. They absorbed the religions and architecture of India. In the 18th century, foreign traders exchanged exotic goods in Ayutthaya. In the 19th century, King Chulalonghorn studied European science, English language, and literature. In the early 20th century, they began to organize their government along democratic principles.

Thailand's Parliamentary organization since 1932 has been like the British Westminster system with a prime minister. However, election of a government by democratic vote has been hard to achieve. The constitution sets out rights and freedoms of the people, but these are not to be used against the nation, the king, and the constitution. Buddhism is the state religion, but people are free to follow any religion.

After World War II, the problem of sending back the defeated Japanese from Thailand arose. In order to prevent Russia and China from taking over Southeast Asia, the U.S. and other Western powers got involved in a war in Vietnam between 1957 to 1973. Thailand, now allied with the U.S., became a base for U.S. troops. After the war in Vietnam, the Southeast Asian countries formed two blocs but worked to heal the division by 1990.

Since its beginning in 1296, the nation of Siam had been ruled by an absolute monarchy. Later, it was overturned and a military government took control, which made the king a constitutional monarch. In 1939, the country's name was officially declared to be Thailand, not Siam. The Thai Prime Minister allowed Japanese army bases in Thailand but Japanese troops stayed there until World War II ended in 1945.

In 1782, Rama I, the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, claimed the throne of Siam. Since then, nine Chakri kings have ruled through 200 years of change in trade, agriculture, government, and everyday life. Siam had two monarchs, who were students of western language and science. They kept Siam free by negotiating treaties with Great Britain. Large-scale British projects brought changes to villages.

Thailand has absorbed a lot of Indian culture. Hinduism, Buddhism, writing, literature, and ideas about kingship and administration came into Thailand as it traded with India from about 300 AD. Indian culture was adapted to the Thai way of life. The Hindu Khmer Empire controlled a great part of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. This empire extended to Phimai until the Tai's persistent invasions overcame it in 1353.

Many different people make up Thailand. Most of them came to Thailand during the last 600 years, but some have lived in the region for thousands of years. Eighty percent of the population speak Thai, the national language, but many small local communities use different dialects. Also, many of the Hill Tribes speak their own ancient languages. In addition, they learn Thai at school, and at work.

Bronze musical instruments, jewelry, and pottery urns were made and used by Thailand's earliest inhabitants in 4000 BC. About 200 BC, these people were joined by tribes driven from southern China by war and other disasters. The Kon Pa, or the people of the forest, hunted wild animals and grew vegetables and rice in the mountains. The Kon Muang, or the people of the town, went further south to grow rice in the river basins.

The region occupied by Thailand was once an ancient migration route. People and animal species that migrated through it followed natural highways that were rivers. These rivers made it possible to travel through the wild, almost impassable mountains and down to the fertile basins and deltas. Some of the world's exotic animals in the world lived in the ideal habitats of this peninsula.

Thailand is in the center of mainland Southeast Asia. Its north is forested and mountainous, with rivers running through deep valleys to a fertile central basin. To the north-east is the dry and harsh Khorat Plateau. Three countries, Thailand, Laos, and Burma meet at Thailand's northern tip. Thailand's seasons are set by monsoons, which bring rain, wind, and floods. In the tropical south, it rains all year round.

Thailand, called the 'Land of the Free,' remained independent when other Southeast Asian countries were colonized. The Buddhist way of life is followed in Thailand by most Thais. The king is their greatly honored head of state. Most people live in farming villages and grow abundant food for the nation and for export. Its capital, Bangkok, is a center of technology and a leading Southeast Asian trader in world markets.