Period One

Ban Chiang to Sukhothai

Mon

The Mon came very early to settle in the western and northern part of Thailand from Burma. They created later the kingdoms of Dvaravati and Harinpunchai which dominated Thailand over centuries. Their influence reached as far as Khon Kaen and Lampang.

Khmer

The Khmer are closely related with the Mon people. They have the same origins as the Krom (also called Khmer Krom) which more settled in Vietnam. The Khmer are especially famous for establishing later the powerful kingdom of Angkor.

Malay

The history of the origins of the Malay people is not clear, but it is mainly believed that they came from China. Their domain is on the Indonesian islands especially Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Sulawesi and the south of the Malayan peninsula. Their most important influence in thailand came from the Srivijaya Empire.