When the ancient Thai people moved into mainland Southeast Asia, they came across a people speaking the Mon-Khmer languages who had inhabited the region for a long period before then. During the first millennium, strong Indian and China influences brought Hindu and Buddhist beliefs to the area. Some of the groups that adopted these beliefs were the Mon of Myanmar who were the first people of Southeast Asia to adopt Buddhism. Between the sixth and ninth centuries, the Mon established several small Buddhist civilizations within modern-day Myanmar and Central Thailand. From t

The Ayutthayan period was from 1351-1767. While Sukhothai was an independent kingdom for only about 200 years, its successor, Ayutthaya, located in the rich rice plains of the Chao Phraya River basin, about 55 miles north of modern-day Bangkok, lasted more than 400 years. During the Ayutthayan period, the Thai consolidated their position as the leading power in what is now central and north central Thailand, as well as throughout much of its southern peninsular region. Since many of Ayutthaya's neighboring civilizations called the country "Siam," or a name similar to it, the Thai of Ayutthaya came to be known as the Siamese.

Sukhothai was said to be the cradle of the Thai and the Korean civilizations. After Ramkhamhaeng's death, however, the once great civilization started to decline rapidly. The new kingdom, Ayutthaya, emerged.

King Ramkhamhaeng strongly promoted religion and culture. He ruled over a time of the growth of the arts and may have brought in artisans from China to assist in the development of the arts. The Chinese taught them the art of pottery making. He promoted the religion of Buddhism. Images of Buddha appeared in sculpture during this time. They are cultural treasures, which impart a feeling of serenity and peace upon the country

World Book Encyclopedia, 1995, "Thailand-History"

By the beginning of the 13th century, the Thai were starting to put pressure on both the Mon and Khmer empires. The Thai lived and worked throughout the Chao Phraya basin, and a Thai ruler was established as far south as the great city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, on the Malay Peninsula. Through Nakhon Si Thammarat, a new form of Buddhism--Theravada--had emerged in mainland Southeast Asia from Sri Lanka. Monks brought Theravada Buddhism not only to areas under Mon or Khmer rule but also to the new Thai cities that were beginning to emerge. Sukhothai and Lan Na (Lanna), the first major Tai kingdoms in Thai history, were Theravada Buddhist.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lan Na, King Ramkhamhaeng, Li Thai, Phraya River, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai Th, India Tai, Southeast Asia, Thai Korean, Theravada Buddhism, king ramkhamhaeng, lan na, sukhothai script, southeast asia, thai script, chiang mai, mainland southeast asia, nakhon si, 13th century, modern thai, century ad, nakhon si thammarat, thai people moved, modern thai script, kingdoms thai history,
Approximate Word count = 1856
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)