IB prescribed content:
Siamese monarchy; internal and external factors that maintained independence; Rama IV (Mongkut), Rama V (Chulalongkorn)
1. An Overview:
One of the unique things about Thailand in the region is that it was never colonised or formally occupied by a foreign power. This has led to a very strong present-day nationalism, Thais have a very strong sense of their unique identity.
This may be the situation today, however the country is made up of many different diverse ethnicities and was seriously challenged by the Western powers. The role of the two kings, Mongkut and Chulalongkorn are to a large extent responsible for resisting the spread of colonial empires, forming a clear Thai identity and changing the country from a feudal state to a more modern constitutional monarchy.
This may be the situation today, however the country is made up of many different diverse ethnicities and was seriously challenged by the Western powers. The role of the two kings, Mongkut and Chulalongkorn are to a large extent responsible for resisting the spread of colonial empires, forming a clear Thai identity and changing the country from a feudal state to a more modern constitutional monarchy.
At least two Hollywood films have been made of this time. They are the same story but two different versions. One is "The KIng and I". The other is "Anna and the KIng" Find a copy of the second version with Jodie Foster and watch the first 30 minutes to get a feel for the tensions between Thailand and the West, the difference between Thai and Western values and the issues brought by the presence of colonial powers butting up against Thai interests.
Use the worksheet below to guide you as you watch.
Use the worksheet below to guide you as you watch.
| worksheet_for_anna_and_the_king.docx |
Lese majeste exists in Thailand.
Find out what this means. We will return to this idea later.
Find out what this means. We will return to this idea later.
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Use the two biographies and the document below "Why was Thailand never colonised?" to go further with the research to get the basic details on:
- When they ruled.
- What their philosophy was on Westernisation.
- How they dealt with foreign powers.
- Why they were able to resist colonialism.
- When they ruled.
- What their philosophy was on Westernisation.
- How they dealt with foreign powers.
- Why they were able to resist colonialism.
| why_was_thailand_never_colonized.docx |
Now go back to the concept of lese majeste. Read these two articles about its enforcement in modern Thailand.
After reading these articles and having completed the biography work above, discuss the reasons and the justifications for lese majeste in Thailand
After reading these articles and having completed the biography work above, discuss the reasons and the justifications for lese majeste in Thailand
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2. Considering the separate successes and failures of Mongkut and Chulalongkorn
Use any or all of the 4 extracts below as well as the information you have gathered from the resources above:
Gather notes on Mongkut first. Focus on his attitudes to the West and the decisions he made for Thailand as a result of Western contact. Were his policies successful or not?
Then gather notes on Chulalongkorn. Were the challenges he faced similar or different? How did he address these issues? Was he successful or not?
The best way to present these notes would be as 2 separate timelines, one for each king. Your teacher may show you an example (from S-drive)
Once you have made both sets of notes, make a set of match up cards, with both kings and events that occured. Play the match up game.
Gather notes on Mongkut first. Focus on his attitudes to the West and the decisions he made for Thailand as a result of Western contact. Were his policies successful or not?
Then gather notes on Chulalongkorn. Were the challenges he faced similar or different? How did he address these issues? Was he successful or not?
The best way to present these notes would be as 2 separate timelines, one for each king. Your teacher may show you an example (from S-drive)
Once you have made both sets of notes, make a set of match up cards, with both kings and events that occured. Play the match up game.
3. Comparing the reigns of Mongkut and Chulalongkorn:
Get into groups of 4. Assign each member one of the following texts.
You are going to see if the sources corroborate each other OR offer credible alternate perspectives. Use the organiser below to collate and analyse your results.
You are going to see if the sources corroborate each other OR offer credible alternate perspectives. Use the organiser below to collate and analyse your results.
| comparing_sources_activity.docx |
| chulalongkorn_notes_baker.docx |
| mongkut_and_chulalongkorn_by_hall.pdf |
| 07_chapter_2.pdf |
| jss_001_0i_frankfurter_kingmongkut.pdf |
Use the 2 buttons below for the following activity.
Using the "Crisis of 1893", you will be assigned one paragraph for which to write a one sentence summary. Try to add HL detail and an overall analysis. Put these together for a summary of the article.
Then, using both sources, decide if the period around 1893 where Chulalongkorn negotiated with the French and British make him the "saviour" or "traitor" of Siam. To decide this, list what he did, what land he gave away and comment on his motivations
Using the "Crisis of 1893", you will be assigned one paragraph for which to write a one sentence summary. Try to add HL detail and an overall analysis. Put these together for a summary of the article.
Then, using both sources, decide if the period around 1893 where Chulalongkorn negotiated with the French and British make him the "saviour" or "traitor" of Siam. To decide this, list what he did, what land he gave away and comment on his motivations
4. To sum up the reigns of Mongkut and Chulalongkorn:
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You are to write a newspaper article on the death of either king. You may be writing for a Thai or a foreign newspaper.
Cover the king's major achievements (and faults if you dare). Cover the extent to which Thailand changed under his rule. Highlight his major achievement. Suggest what still needs to happen in Thailand.
Remember your emphasis is the external and internal influences which allowed the maintenance of independence.
Set your newspaper article out authentically with headline, columns, photograph etc
Once the article is done, swop with someone and using their article, highlight the historical facts in their article and evaluate the attitude they present.
You are to write a newspaper article on the death of either king. You may be writing for a Thai or a foreign newspaper.
Cover the king's major achievements (and faults if you dare). Cover the extent to which Thailand changed under his rule. Highlight his major achievement. Suggest what still needs to happen in Thailand.
Remember your emphasis is the external and internal influences which allowed the maintenance of independence.
Set your newspaper article out authentically with headline, columns, photograph etc
Once the article is done, swop with someone and using their article, highlight the historical facts in their article and evaluate the attitude they present.