Early Kingdoms & Sukhothai (until 1438)

Long before the Thai arrived in the region, Mon and Khmer peoples inhabited the area of present-day Thailand. The mighty Khmer Empire (Angkor) controlled large parts of present-day Northeast Thailand (Isan) — the impressive temple ruins of Phimai and Phanom Rung still bear witness to this today. In the south, the Kingdom of Srivijaya flourished, a maritime trade network centered on Sumatra that spread Buddhism in the region.

The Kingdom of Sukhothai (1238–1438)

The founding myth of Thailand begins in 1238 when two Thai princes defeated the Khmer garrison in Sukhothai and founded the first independent Thai kingdom. The name means "Dawn of Happiness" — and Thais consider this era their golden age.

King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (reign 1279–1298) is considered the father of the nation. He created the Thai alphabet (still used today, based on Khmer script), promoted Theravada Buddhism as the state religion, and established a paternalistic model of governance: The king as the benevolent father of the people — a concept that still shapes Thai politics today.

The ruins of Sukhothai are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are among the most beautiful historical sites in Southeast Asia. The seated Buddha in Wat Mahathat, surrounded by lotus columns, is one of the most iconic images of Thailand.