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Early Thai History Trivia Quiz

Thailand, that beautiful country in the center of southeast Asia, has been virtually ignored at Funtrivia...that is, until now! Here are 10 things trivia buffs must know about pre-colonial Thai history...good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
78,194

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
765

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. One ancient culture in Thailand is reported to have developed the ability to use bronze before 3000 BC. What was the name of this culture? Hint

Chiang Mai

Chiao Ping

Pan Chiao

Ban Chiang

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Question 2 of 10

2. The T'ai-Kadai (a language family) speaking peoples (of which the Thai are members) originated in what is now southern China.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Thailand's former name comes from the moniker for the indigenous peoples of the Thai heartland who predated later Thai migrants. What is this former name?

Answer: ( One Word .. it has 4 letters )

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the great T'ai state of modern Yunnan province in China that fell to the armies of Kublai Khan in 1253? Hint

Nan Chao

Shan

Vieng Chan

Luang Prabang

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Question 5 of 10

5. While the neighboring Khmer empire was in decline, the Thai state of Lopburi was on the rise, with one of its centers at which great capital, founded in 1450? Hint

Krung Thep

Chiangmai

Ubon

Ayudhya

6. After having seen Thai kingdoms such as Lan Na and Sukhothai crumble before Burmese attacks in the 18th century, the Thai people were in a ruinous situation. But out of the ashes of this relative chaos came a general who was able to reunite the various Thai states and help repel the remaining Burmese forces. Who was this general? Hint

Phibun

Chulalongkorn

Taksin

Vajiravudh

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Question 7 of 10

7. Soon after Thailand was reunited, in 1782, a new general named Chaophraya Mahakasatsuk took power. He re-established the capital at Krung Thep (modern day Bangkok) and renamed himself. What was the reign name of this new king?

Answer: (Hint: named himself for a Hindu hero)

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Question 8 of 10

8. This new Thai king took great pains to compose an epic piece of literature which was based on an ancient Indian work. What was this Thai version called? Hint

Ramakian

Bhagavad-Gikian

Mahabarakian

Upanishakian

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Question 9 of 10

9. The fourth king of this new dynasty went to great lengths to ensure that Thailand did not fall into the hands of a western power during the period of colonial fever. He signed several treaties and made other agreements, and modernized the kingdom to a degree, which helped maintain Thailand as an independent country, an independence that it has never relinquished. What was the name of this great king? Hint

Phibun

Kittikachorn

Sarit

Mongkut

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Question 10 of 10

10. Speaking about the growing European presence in the region, who was the first European to visit Thailand during the modern era? Hint

Alexander of Rhodes

Marco Polo

Nicolo di Conti

Barolomeu Dias

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One ancient culture in Thailand is reported to have developed the ability to use bronze before 3000 BC. What was the name of this culture?

Answer: Ban Chiang

If this is true, and there is ample evidence to support the veracity of these claims, indigenous people of Thailand entered their bronze age at least 200 years before the Middle East and 1000 years prior to the Chinese.

2. The T'ai-Kadai (a language family) speaking peoples (of which the Thai are members) originated in what is now southern China.

Answer: True

There are quite a number of remaining T'ai-Kadai speaking communities strewn throughout Southwest China, primarily in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces. The Lao and Shan languages also belong to this prominent southeast Asian language family.

3. Thailand's former name comes from the moniker for the indigenous peoples of the Thai heartland who predated later Thai migrants. What is this former name?

Answer: Siam

These earlier inhabitants were called 'Syama' and their country 'Syam' by their neighbors.

4. What was the name of the great T'ai state of modern Yunnan province in China that fell to the armies of Kublai Khan in 1253?

Answer: Nan Chao

Following this defeat, the T'ai of Nan Chao migrated south to join their fellow T'ai-Kadai speaking relatives in Laos, Thailand and Burma.

5. While the neighboring Khmer empire was in decline, the Thai state of Lopburi was on the rise, with one of its centers at which great capital, founded in 1450?

Answer: Ayudhya

Ayudhya became the center of a great Thai kingdom that lasted for several centuries. This illustrious period ended in the late 18th century due to Burmese invasions and a great fire, in 1767, which effectively ended its reign as a significant city.

Answer: Taksin

Taksin had himself crowned king in 1767 and had his capital construvcted at Thonbury, just across the Chaophraya River from Krung Thep (Bangkok). Taksin soon grew quite enamoured by his own power and divinity, claiming himself to be a Boddhisattva (returned Buddha). Revolt was soon to follow and Taksin found himself dethroned and executed, via a traditional method in which he was placed in a velvet sack and beaten to death.

Answer: Rama I

He was the first king of the Chakri dynasty.

8. This new Thai king took great pains to compose an epic piece of literature which was based on an ancient Indian work. What was this Thai version called?

Answer: Ramakian

The Ramakian was named for the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, a 3,000 page tome full from the exciting adventures of the ancient Hindu king Rama...there's that name again.

Answer: Mongkut

King Mongkut (reign name: Rama IV) was partially responsible for keeping Thailand free from colonialism, although the British did interfere greatly in the Thai economy. Mongkut was the subject of the film 'The King and I' in which he was portrayed by Yul Brynner, etc., etc., etc.

10. Speaking about the growing European presence in the region, who was the first European to visit Thailand during the modern era?

Answer: Nicolo di Conti

Nicolo di Conti (Portuguese) was the first European trader to visit Thailand, reaching the trading ports at Tenasserim, Mergui and Tavoy in 1430.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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