Bangkok: From an Antique to a Modern City

Abstract

The arrival of European imperialism during the nineteenth century had a great impact on Asia. Each Asian country responded differently to the challenges. Fortunately for Thailand or Siam (Siam is the former name of Thailand. The Thai Government changed the name of the country from Siam to Thailand in 1939), King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn ably faced up to the challenge, employing diplomatic strategies which helped protect Siam from imperialist domination. Their reforms helped Siam become a modern nation. A number of Thai scholars recognize the so-called First Grand European Visit of King Chulalongkorn in 1897 as an important turning point for a new and modern Siam. As a result of that trip, many historic reforms and modernizing projects were undertaken. In fact, however, some degree of modernization had taken place in Siam even before King Chulalongkorn visited Europe. Networks of roads and other modern innovations were first introduced in Bangkok during the reign of King Mongkut (1851–1868) and extended by King Chulalongkorn (1868–1910). As Bangkok continued to integrate into the Western economy, King Mongkut understood that the capital needed to become a modern city of international stature. To achieve this aim, a model, a European-like city in the region, was needed to guide the transformation. Two prominent cities in Southeast Asia, Singapore and Batavia, were selected. During the reigns of King Mongkut and his son, King Chulalongkorn, both Singapore and Batavia were scrutinized for this purpose. During his first overseas journey in 1871, King Chulalongkorn visited Singapore and Batavia. Back in Bangkok, he moved ahead with more changes that would eventually result in far-reaching physical and administrative reforms in the capital city.