How Thailand Resisted Colonization
This article explores the historical context of how Thailand, formerly Siam, managed to maintain its sovereignty during the era of European colonization. It focuses on the early life of King Mongkut and the cultural and political landscape of the 19th-century kingdom.
Why it matters
Understanding Thailand's unique history of avoiding colonization provides insight into Southeast Asian geopolitical resilience and diplomatic history.
At the beginning of the 1833 dry season, a monk named Mongkut set out for Sukhothai, the old capital of Siam. Long journeys by boat and on foot for study, teaching, and religious observance were common for monks like Mongkut. Theravada Buddhism was a huge part of life in premodern Siam, and at any given time, a small percentage of adult men were ordained as monks. As they traveled around the kingdom, locals provided them with food, clothes, and lodging.
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