{"id":17765,"date":"2023-06-28T06:24:57","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T06:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/?p=17765"},"modified":"2023-07-01T13:40:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T13:40:31","slug":"what-is-the-history-of-bangkok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the history of Bangkok?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/#1_The_Chakri_Dynasty\" >1. The Chakri Dynasty<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/#2_Road_Building_for_Europeans\" >2. Road Building for Europeans<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/#3_The_Difficult_Period_of_Democracy\" >3. The Difficult Period of Democracy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/#4_Irrigation_and_Commercialisation\" >4. Irrigation and Commercialisation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/what-is-the-history-of-bangkok\/#5_Modern-Day_Bangkok\" >5. Modern-Day Bangkok<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"350\" data-id=\"17766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/bangkok-history.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/bangkok-history.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/bangkok-history-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a large city with a cosmopolitan culture. The history of Bangkok has quite literally been the history of Thailand at large. Many important events have taken place in the city. To understand the culture, people, and everything that exists today here, let&#8217;s start from the start. The history of the city can be dated back to the fifteenth century. It was a quiet and straightforward farming and trading area on the banks of river Chao Phraya where small communities lived. It grew in importance during the 15-16th centuries after new waterways and roadways were constructed. After Ayutthaya was burnt in 1767 by the Burmese army, the Thai military established Thon Buri, a community of Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_Chakri_Dynasty\"><\/span>1. The Chakri Dynasty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"945\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wednesday-shutterstock-188108669small_main_1445002207708.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wednesday-shutterstock-188108669small_main_1445002207708.jpeg 945w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wednesday-shutterstock-188108669small_main_1445002207708-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wednesday-shutterstock-188108669small_main_1445002207708-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wednesday-shutterstock-188108669small_main_1445002207708-850x567.jpeg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Phraya Chakri, one of Taksin&#8217;s generals, came to power and was crowned in 1782 as Phra Yot Fa. He was also popularly known as King Buddha Yodfa or Rama I. He moved the capital to Bangkok and established the Chakri Dynasty. The construction planning of the area led to the development of monasteries, throne halls, residence halls, and palace temples. In 1785, the royal district was completed, and the city was given a name at the consecration ceremony: &#8216;Great City of Angels, the Repository of Divine Gems, the Great Land Unconquerable, the Grand and Prominent Realm, the Royal and Delightful Capital City full of Nine Noble Gems, the Highest Royal Dwelling and Grand Palace, the Divine Shelter and Living Place of Reincarnated Spirits.&#8217; Foreign traders continued to call the city &#8216;Bang Makok.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Road_Building_for_Europeans\"><\/span>2. Road Building for Europeans<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"17768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video-850x478.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/european-style-building-in-bangkok-thailand-free-video.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1851 King Mongkut (Rama IV) began his reign by ordering the digging of a new city moat, Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem. In his own words, &#8220;The previous three kings ordered canals to be excavated for the people&#8217;s benefit. These days, as the nation has attained prosperity and the population of the capital has increased greatly, the city area should be expanded. The population of common people has become much larger. Houses and residences of officials and common people are mostly outside the city area.&#8221; Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem was dug approximately 1km east of the old city moat Khlong Rop Krung. It starts just upriver from Rama 8 Bridge and runs south for 5.5km rejoining the river opposite the Icon Siam shopping complex. When it was dug, this new city boundary doubled the area of Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_Difficult_Period_of_Democracy\"><\/span>3. The Difficult Period of Democracy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08-850x478.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/rtx7px08.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thailand&#8217;s economy crashed during the 1990s, and after several economic reforms, Bangkok&#8217;s economy could pick up its pace again. The 21st century brought its own set of difficulties and challenges for Bangkok. In 2006, a bloodless coup overthrew then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Accused of corruption and found guilty in 2008, he is currently living in self-imposed exile. Anti-government demonstrations took place in Thailand in 2008. In 2011, Thaksin&#8217;s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was elected the Prime Minister. 2013-2014 witnessed politically unstable conditions in the country. Anti-government movements took place during these two years. This resulted in the removal of Yingluck and the establishment of the military junta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Irrigation_and_Commercialisation\"><\/span>4. Irrigation and Commercialisation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"17770\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_5607-850x567.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst Siamese governments had invested in major canals to address transportation and military issues, the digging of canals for crop irrigation seems to have been traditionally left to local communities who would adapt the course of rivers and local water courses to suit their needs. But in 1855, Siam signed the Bowring Treaty with Britain, which ended the traditional royal monopolies on trade. This treaty initiated a process of economic transformation in Siam. No longer able to rely on trading monopolies for their income, the Thai elite now turned to cash crops such as sugar cane and rice. This prompted the digging of three major canals west of Bangkok to open up this region for rice cultivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Modern-Day_Bangkok\"><\/span>5. Modern-Day Bangkok<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9699604924_9d78f4b6fd_b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9699604924_9d78f4b6fd_b.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9699604924_9d78f4b6fd_b-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9699604924_9d78f4b6fd_b-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9699604924_9d78f4b6fd_b-850x564.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Bangkok is a vibrant city that blends tradition and modernity. It is known for its rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, bustling markets, and vibrant street life. Bangkok remains the political, economic, and cultural capital of Thailand, contributing to the country&#8217;s growth and serving as a gateway to Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a large city with a cosmopolitan culture. The history of Bangkok has quite literally [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1352,491,487,1349],"class_list":["post-17765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bangkok","tag-culture","tag-history","tag-thailand"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17765"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17772,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17765\/revisions\/17772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holidaylandmark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}