Introduction, Methodology,
List of Illustrations and Index
as PDF
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| Cover, Title Page, Imprint, Contents, Introduction, Methodology, List of Illustrations and Index as PDF |
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This booklet is intended for people possessing little or no prior knowledge of Thai history, who wished to be informed on what happened in Thailand’s past. It was written by someone who relied mainly upon primary sources and who has the ability to critically appraise theories that are no longer tenable. At the same time this work is intended in a modest way as a contribution to Thai history itself, particularly in its presentation of Thai history according to a set of themes. There are two advantages of this thematic approach. In the first place it avoids the hotchpotch of kings, Buddhism, rice and revolution that characterises much historical writing on Thailand. Secondly, each chapter can be read as an entity in itself. Finally, the short reading and reference list at the end of each chapter can be the basis for further study. |
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Contents: Introduction Methodology Chapter One: The People The origin of the ThaisThe geographical setting Population Language and script The name of the country Personal names Further reading Chapter Two: The Economic Perspective The Ayutthayan economyThe first half of the nineteenth century The growing dependence upon rice-cultivation Financial problems, 1919–1925 The Depression and the 1932 “Revolution” Economic nationalism in the 1930s World War II Investment in the infrastructure Industrialisation and economic growth The Asian currency crisis Thaksinomics Recent times Further reading Chapter Three: The Military and Administration The elephant and early warfareTraditional warfare Traditional administration The king and the great households Nineteenth-century developments The turbulent twentieth century Further reading Chapter Four: Kings as Heroes Legendary figuresAyutthayan luminaries The Thonburi interlude Heroic Chakris The long reign of King Bhumibol Further reading Chapter Five: Religion The Buddha and his teachingsThe rise of Theravada Buddhism The “Sermon of the Three Worlds” Two journeys to Sri Lanka The reform movement The role of Buddhism in society Recent developments Further reading Chapter Six: Monasteries An overviewThe cult of relics The Bot Bai Sema Galleries Buddha’s footprint The role of the monastery Further reading Chapter Seven: Education BackgroundMonastery education in Thailand The effectiveness of traditional education The monastery schools in the early twentieth century After 1932 Secular higher education Further reading Chapter Eight: Internal politics The autocratic systemPolitics during the Fifth Reign Political unrest The first coup d’état World War II Democracy – and the return of the military A military oligarchy, 1947–1973 The “Democracy Period”, 1973–1976 The 1980s and 1990s Thaksin and after Further reading Chapter Nine: Foreign Relations Ayutthaya, a cosmopolitan courtChina, the centre of the world The rise of the European model The colonial threat Armed clash with France Siam and emergent Asia World War II Thailand and the Cold War Adjusting to a rapidly changing world Further reading Chapter Ten: The search for a Thai identity Early nationalism, 1910–1932Flirting with totalitarianism State-led national identity The Ban Chiang discoveries Further reading Appendix List of IllustrationsIndex |
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