The capital of Thailand is at the same time the largest city and resort in the country, and also a record holder - the name received by the settlement at its "birth" turned out to be one of the longest existing place names on earth. The history of Bangkok is an example of how a giant can grow from a small settlement, a handsome city with unique architecture that attracts millions of tourists.
A settlement with a tasty name
The modern metropolis grew out of a small settlement in which the inhabitants were engaged in fishing and trade. The history of Bangkok began with the development of these two fisheries, which was facilitated by the location - on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand.
The name of the settlement could be translated from the Thai language as "a place where olives grow." True, local residents clarify that in fact they are not olives, but the makok fruit, which is a kind of plum. Therefore, the second version of the translation of the toponym is "the village of wild plums." The main task of the residents is to serve the city of Ayutthaya, which at that time was the capital of the state.
Decent change of leader
In 1767, the Burmese came to these territories, who destroyed Ayutthaya, so the city authorities were forced to think about a new capital. For Bangkok, one might say, the finest hour has come: from a small fishing village, it becomes the capital of Siam.
Under King Rama I, the question of the convenient location of the capital in the event of an attack from external enemies came to the fore. Therefore, it was decided to move all government offices to the east coast. The old buildings were demolished, the palace was the first to appear. An active construction of administrative buildings, ceremonial structures, Buddhist monasteries and complexes began around it. The main development factor is a convenient location: on the one hand, there is a seaport, on the other hand, a crossroads of land routes.
New city life
So you can retell the history of Bangkok in a nutshell. In the 19th century, Bangkok is a fairly large city that preserves its unique oriental architecture, the capital of a strong state that managed to withstand two major colonialists - England and France.
Thai monarchs sought to strengthen the power of the state, therefore they were engaged in the development of the economy, the construction of roads and railways. Gradually, Bangkok is becoming not only a political center, its role as an economic and commercial center of the country is growing.
The twentieth century for Bangkok, as well as for the entire planet, was unstable; several pages with a tragic tinge can be noted in the history of the city: the occupation by the Japanese during the Second World War and indirect participation in the Vietnam War. True, the latter just contributed to the development of the city as a center for tourism and recreation - first American soldiers, and then peaceful tourists.
