Is Thailand A Country?

A country is an area or location that is politically and geographically divided and branded as a distinctive national unit. It can also be referred to as a nation that occupies a particular space and possesses a specific government. Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. It is geographically located at the center of the Southeast Asian Indochinese peninsula.

History of Thailand

The history of Thailand dates back to about 40,000 years ago when human species first occupied the region. Thailand was mostly influenced by Indian religion and culture as they were led by the Khmer Empire. Cambodia, Central Thailand, and Srivijaya were the most subjected regions, and they contributed to the influence of Buddhism from India to Siam. The Khmer empire ruled Thailand from about the 10th to the 14th centuries before Thai city-states progressively started gaining independence.

Thai people formed their own states in the early twentieth century though the Ayutthaya Kingdom remained the highest power at the time. However, Burma, Vietnam, and Khmers regularly threatened the states. The British and French who were competing for Southeast Asia Colonies were also present. Thailand succeeded to escape colonial rule by the Europeans. The Siamese Revolution in 1932 sparked by civil workers and young military also terminated the monarchy of Ayutthaya Kingdom.

The Siamese Revolution led to the formation of a constitutional monarchy that was administered by military personnel. The military ruled Thailand for about sixty years before they decided to align Thailand with Japan during World War II to avoid being a victim. Thailand then united with the US to avoid devotion to communalist influence after postwar. In 1992, Thailand formed a democratic government that remains to date.

Facts About Thailand

Thailand covers approximately 513,120 square kilometers and it has approximately 68 million inhabitants. Thailand is recognized as the 50th largest country in the world and the 21st most populous country. Thailand is situated in a region bordered by Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Andaman Sea to the west, Myanmar to the north, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Besides being the biggest city, Bangkok is also Thailand’s capital city.

Thailand has 76 provinces, which are classified into five groups of provinces, by locality. Bangkok and Pattaya are the specially-governed districts. Each province is divided into districts which are further grouped into sub-districts. As for wildlife, Thailand’s favorite animal, which is also its national symbol, is the elephant. There are about 500 elephants in Thailand, and more than half of them are tamed. The number has decreased drastically due to poaching; in 1850, there were about 100,000 domesticated elephants in Thailand.

In conclusion, Thailand is an emerging economy as it has a developing market. Despite its irregular changes in leadership, it is considered a state that has immense power within Southeast Asia. It also has modest influence in global affairs.