An Illustrated History of Thailand is dividedgeographically according to the sequence of succeeding Thai kingdoms. Eachsection follows a historical chronology, covering accounts of major eventsduring each reign, with an assessment of the character of individual kings andtheir particular achievements, together with those of other major players. Thisrecord of events is blended with descriptive passages about monuments survivingtoday that are relevant to and help illuminate the history. Political developmentis thus paralleled by Thailand’s cultural development, especially in relationto the religious and royal architecture. Thailand’s historical progression has been complex, andalthough the foundations of national identity – religion and monarchy inparticular – were established in the earliest days of statehood dating back tothe 13th century, it is only in comparatively recent times that all elements –social, political, cultural and linguistic – have cohered into what isrecognizable today as Thai and Thailand. By linking the text to existinglandmarks, the history provides both an enjoyable read in its own right and afascinating guide to the monuments and buildings that visitors can see on theirtravels around the country. This third edition brings the history fully up todate.
