Ayutthaya

The ancient Thai capital

“A local bus ride takes us to the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya where we set out to explore picturesque ruins and temples before boarding an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai.” - Intrepid Travel Itinerary

Ayutthaya as the leading power of South East Asia

In 1351 U Thong established the city of Ayutthaya on the Chao Phraya river. In 1378 Ayutthaya defeated Sukhotai in battle and became the capital of the Thai world. In 1431 the Thai army defeated the declining Khmer kingdom and captured Angkor. Ayutthaya thus became the leading imperial power of South East Asia. Two major changes occurred as a result of this shift in power. First, with their capital now on the coast, the Thais began to focus on commerce. Second, while the king of Sukhotai had been called the Dhammaraja (lawful king), the king of Ayutthaya was to be called Devaraja (god king). As a result, the king of Thailand is now seen as a god by his people.

Ayutthayan Economics

Rice fields were used not only for consumption but to pay taxes and fund religious efforts. The type of rice differed based on elevation. In higher altitudes that experienced frequent, heavy rainfall, the Thai would grow glutinous rice. In the low lands, meanwhile, the peasants would grow a non-glutinous rice referred to as the floating rice. It grew very rapidly - quick enough to keep up with the changing water level. It was this rice cultivation and Ayutthaya's strategic location that made it the center of economic activity in the area.