Recent archaeological evidence suggest that the region known today as Thailand has been inhabited by humans since at least 5,000 years ago. Thai are related to groups originating in southern China, Thais migrated from southern China to mainland Southeast Asia approximately the 10th century AD. Prior to this, Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms ruled the area.

According to tradition, in 1238 AD, the Thai community founded the first Thai kingdom, Sukhothai, which marks the foundation of the Sukhothai Period. Called by its leaders "the dawn of happiness", is regarded as the golden era of Thai history, an ideal state rules by benevolent kings.

During the Sukhothai era, King Ramkhamhaeng the Great organized a method of writing which became the basis for modern Thai. Sukhothai increased its influence and expanded for nearly 200 years, however, Sukhothai was overshadowed by the powerful Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya in the mid-14th century.

Ayutthaya adopted the Khmer cultural influences like customs and rituals; the early part of this age saw Ayutthaya Kingdom extending its control over neighboring Thai principalities.

King Ramathibodi I, the first monarch of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, made two significant contributions to Thai history:

The declaration of the Theravada Buddhism as the official religion.
The compilation of the Dharmashastra, a legal code based on Hindu basis and traditional Thai custom.

During the 17th century, the first formal diplomatic and commercial contacts between Siam and western countries were established.

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