History of Bangkok

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is called actually “Krung Thep” and means so much like „The city of the angels“. Bangkok not always was the capital of Thailand.

In the 18th century Bangkok was still a small village as a suburb of Thonburi. At this time Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand which was first conquered in 1767 by burma troops and was destroyed then.

After the destruction king Rama I wanted to build up a new capital near the village Bangkok. The capital was moved to the river side compared with the place Thonburi. Under Rama I it was begun first with the construction of Wat Phra Kaew. Bangkok was called by the arrangement of many canals till 1850 also as „Venice of the east“.

The water ways were used predominantly by traders, because at this time streets were rather a rarity. By his relations in the USA and to Europe left king Rama V. Chulalongkorn to whom from 1868 to 1910 governed, modern buildings establish after western style, railroad lines and streets.

During the 2nd world Bangkok was taken by Japan and fire from the allies countries. Nevertheless, the political situation remained unstable also after 1945 and till this day a total of 19 military putsches have taken place.

In particular in the time between 1960 and 1970 enlarged Bangkok to itself terrifically, the economy flourished and a regular construction boom used it. Today the Thai population counts approx. 60 million people, of it from approx. 10 to 12 million people living in Bangkok.

The population is to 85% Thai. Other population groups form the Chinese (approx. 5 %) as well as Thais of Malay descent which concentrate mainly upon the south of the country.

Today Bangkok is the heart of Thailand and political, economic and cultural centre of the country.