Recent archaeological discoveries near the north-eastern village of Ban Chiang suggest that the world's oldest Bronze Age civilisation flourished there 5,600 years ago.
Most historians believe that Thais originate from southern China and migrated south.
Their movements were porbably given greater impetus by the expansion of the mongol empire under Kublai Khan. In the twelfth century Thais established city states in Lanna, Phayao and Sukhothai, while Khmers ruled much of the rest of the country from Angkor. The first independent Thai kingdom, Sukhothai was founded in 1238. Thais gradually extended their influence thoughout the Chao Phraya River basin. Ayutthaya, also on the Chao Phraya, became the dominant Thai kingdom from 1350 until its destruction in 1767 by invading Burmese.