History of Thailand

Thailand stands as one of the few countries in Asia to have never experienced foreign colonization in its history. Yet, the Kingdom of Siam was, on several occasions, subject to more or less bloody attacks.

Formerly known as the Kingdom of Siam, it was only in 1939 that Thailand adopted the name Meuang Thai, meaning "land of the free people."

Before the arrival of the Thais from southern China, the country was the realm of several ethnic groups such as the Mons, Khmers, and Malays, thus explaining its history closely linked with its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.