Special Sub-Topic: Early Lao History Authored by: thejazzkickazz Sub-topic of: Laos

The Lao people are culturally and linguistically most closely linked with which other neighboring people?

Thai. The Lao language is a member of the T'ai-Kadai family of languages, and the Lao speaking peoples are believed to have originated, along with the Thai people, in what is now southern China.

The earliest communities of the early Lao tribes were called what?

Meuang. Meuang is a term for a town or network of villages headed by a single chief, called a 'chao'. One early Lao Meuang, Meuang Thaen, is now called Dien Bien Phu and exists in northern Vietnam.

The name 'Lao' comes from the term for the earlier inhabitants of the region, probably Austronesian speaking people. What was the term for this group of people?

Lawa or Lwa. Many of these people eventually intermingled and assimilated into the Lao culture, and their heritage was amalgamated with the T'ai culture of the newcomers to create something uniquely Lao.

By approximately 1200 AD, most of the area of modern Laos was controlled by which ancient empire of Southeast Asia?

Khmer. The Khmer's final consolidation of power over the Lao people lasted only a short time, however, as the forces of Kublai Khan were able to enter the Mekong valley and assert suzerainty over much of northern Southeast Asia.

During the time of Mongol (or Yuan, as the Mongol Chinese dynasty was known), which Thai state ruled over northwestern Laos?

Lan Na. The name Lan Na means 'land of a million paddy fields'. Lan Na was centered in Chiangmai, a northern Thai city, and ruled from the mid-13th century to the mid 15th century.

The first truly Lao state, called Lan Xang, began to develop around the mid 14th century. What does 'Lan Xang' translate as in English?

Land of a million elephants. Lan Xang eventually was able to engulf most of what is now modern Laos. This kingdom existed from 1349 until the fall of Vieng Chan (Vientiane) in 1779, finally overcome by Thai forces.

The kingdom of Lan Xang was centered on Xiang Dong Xiang Thong. This site was eventually to become known as what?

Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is centered in northern Laos, cut through by the Mekong river valley.

The development of this site as a great kingdom is usually attributed to which hereditary prince who was born circa 1316 AD?

Fa Ngum. Fa Ngum was expelled from Laos at a young age and was said to have grown up in Angkor, in what was then the Khmer Empire. He developed a wonderful reputation with the Khmer king and was eventually equipped with a great army which he used to conquer the areas which would eventually become Lan Xang. He is also credited with bringing Theravada (also known as Hinayana, or 'lesser vehicle') Buddhism to the Lao people.

In 1560, the capital of Lan Xang was moved to which spot, where the capital of Laos currently rests?

Vieng Chan. Vieng Chan is the Lao pronunciation of Vientiane, the name commonly used in the West.

By the late 17th-early 18th century, the Lao people were divided, with Lan Xang in severe decline. Which two countries shared suzerainty over the former Lao state?

Thailand and Vietnam. By the end of the 19th century, however, the French were to destroy this power structure.