Siam, Thailand’s previous name, has a long history dating back about seven hundred years. In 13th century, Sukhothai had been the center of the first Siam kingdom until its decline in 14th century.

The new further south state, Ayutthaya, began to challenge and deny Sukhothai's power. In 1378, Ayutthaya ceded the Sukhothai frontier cities and then Sukhothai became a tributary state of Ayuthaya. [More]

Bangkok has had long history of urban growth from a small village with only a few thousand people. At the end of King Taksin’s reign of Thonburi era, the rebelling emerged in court. Chao Praya Mahakrasatsuek who was commanding the army in Cambodian war, immediately moved his troops back to Thonburi to suppress the rebellion. After the situations had been solved, the citizens requested him to the throne as King Rama I.

King Rama I rebuilt the nation’s spirit by restoring the arts and cultures in all aspects. The fall of Ayutthaya took all its wealth away from the kingdom. During the Thonburi era of king Taksin, all the energy was spent on wars to reclaim an independence. [More]

Bangkok in the reign of King Rama I to King Rama III was in fascinating year-long lush greenery. A number of sea vassels anchored in the river, stupas decorated with colored China scatter along the river banks. Ornamented roofs of temples glittered in the sunlight. Raft-shops lined up along the banks while thousands of all sizes boats traveled up and down the river and canal constantly. There were people of all races and languages dressing their traditional costumes. The music from traditional Thai ensemble echoed from different directions. [More]

In the reign of King Rama IV, the westerners slightly increased in Bangkok. King Rama IV opened up Siam to a new era of modern progress and civilization, introduced new knowledge and technology from the West to Siamese society. Bangkok in this reign was more modernized than the previous reigns owing to modern roadways, new bridges, modern blocks, modern stemboats, modern rice mills, modern boatyards.

In the reign of King Rama V, his many Asia and Europe trips filled him with perceptions for the beauty of the great cities on the continent. So he set himself the target of renovating Bangkok to attain the same level of beauty and order as those Western cities. [More]

Bangkok was extensively expanded and crowded by mass of population from all regions of the country to search their jobs and education. As a result of increasing of transportation, many canals were filled up and gradually turned into roads. The city walls and forts also were demolished to use the space for shophouses.

Bangkok today therefore is a great metropolitan city of the world that has evolved successfully and possesses elegant arts and culture and architecture that are worth every conservation and restoration effort so that they may stand and harmonize elegantly with changes occurring in the present world. [more]