Thailand in Depth

Thailand is a history buff's paradise. The best-known parts of Thai history are the stories of its great kings and the kingdoms they established as they moved southward toward the Gulf of Thailand. Also well known are these kings' struggles with kingdoms in what are now the neighboring countries of Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The current Chakkri Dynasty was established in 1782. The fourth and fifth kings of this dynasty, King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn, are specifically cited for their many achievements in the cultural realm and in affairs of state. In fact, some argue that their statesmanship prevented European powers from colonizing Thailand.