Thai

The Thai group gathers the Tai-speaking peoples, who are scattered across southern China and mainland Southeast Asia and are identified chiefly by their language: the Zhuang, Dai, Lao and Thai among them. In 1238 Si Inthrathit revolted against the Khmer and founded the Sukhothai Kingdom.

Under Ram Khamhaeng (1279–1298) it reached its greatest extent, and he is credited with introducing Theravada Buddhism and the first Thai script. Sukhothai declined afterwards: the neighboring kingdom of Ayutthaya invaded it in 1349 and annexed it in 1438.