Taken on: 8th November, 2010. Copyright: All Rights Reserved -
See cheuleng's page of Flickr Read more about Sukhothai The
ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai, a name meaning dawn of
happiness, was founded in the 13th century and became the
kingdom's first capital — existing between the years of 1238 and
1438. During that time, the Sukhothai Dynasty saw nine kings
reign, the best known of whom was the third, King Ramkhamhaeng,
who has been credited with both the creation of the modern-day
Thai alphabet and the introduction of Theravada Buddhism to
Thailand. At its apex, the Sukhothai Kingdom stretched over much
of modern-day Thailand (excepting the northeast, much of which
remained under the control of the Khmers). The territory was
gained both by military campaigns as well as diplomacy, the
latter of which King Ramkhamhaeng was seen to be a master of.
This period is seen as a Thai golden age where the Thai arts and
culture prospered under the reign of a series of benevolent
rulers. Trade flourished, and, in a