Laos as a unified state within its present geographical boundaries has only existed for little more than one hundred years. Its national history stretches back six centuries to the legendary kingdom of Lane Xang, once a rival to the powerful empires of mainland Southeast Asia
The beginnings
The earliest known
indigenous culture
in Laos was an iron-age megalithic people that lived on the Plain of Jars, at the centre of trade routes to China, Vietnam and points south. The early inhabitants of Laos and the surrounding parts of...
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Early influences
The cultural roots of the present-day Lao lie in
Indian civilization
, not Chinese. From the first century AD, Indian traders began introducing Buddhism to Southeast Asia, and between the sixth and ninth centuries upper Laos, along with central...
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The rise of Lane Xang
By the thirteenth century, Louang Phabang had emerged as one of the chief Tai centres of the Upper Mekong, an area settled by people who called themselves
Lao
. A century later, though still significant, Louang Phabang, then known as Xiang Dong...
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The Burmese invasions
By the time Visoun's grandson, Setthathilat (1548-1571), came to power, Burma was becoming an increasing threat to Lane Xang, so he officially moved his capital to the more strategically sited
Vientiane
in 1563; the revered Pha Bang was left...
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The division of Lane Xang
The decisive character who returned stability to the kingdom and eventually ushered in the
Golden Age
of Lane Xang was Sourinyavongsa (1637-1694). He aligned Lane Xang through marriage with neighbouring powers, invaded Xiang Khouang, forged a...
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The rise of Siam
In 1767, the Burmese also razed Ayutthaya, but the
Siamese
quickly rebuilt their kingdom downriver from Ayuthaya near Bangkok, and within a decade had retaken its territory, and were preparing to expand eastwards. 20,000 Siamese soldiers set...
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French rule
France's initial interest in Laos stemmed from a belief that the Mekong River would provide a backdoor route to China and the resource-rich Yunnan region. Although the Mekong Exploration Commission of 1867-1868 soon discovered that significant stretches...
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World War II
The fall of France to Germany in 1940 suddenly changed the political landscape. The Japanese occupied Laos, and Siam, renamed Thailand in 1939, seized the west-bank territories of Xainyabouli and Champasak. In April 1945, the Japanese forced Sisavang...
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The Pathet Lao
By early 1947, the Kingdom of Laos had begun to take shape as Laos - under French political, military and economic control - became unified under the royal house of Louang Phabang.
The French, however, were increasingly bogged down in their...
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The First Indochina War
By the early 1950s, the
First Indochina War
had engulfed the region. Chinese military aid flowed to the Viet Minh, while the United States supported France. For the Viet Minh, Laos was an extension of their battle against the French. Twice in...
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America intervenes
After the 1954 Geneva Accords, which the US did not sign, strengthening the anti-communist governments of Indochina became a priority for President Dwight Eisenhower's administration. For the US, Laos, not South Vietnam, was the key to Indochina; their...
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The Laotian crisis
In August 1960, self-proclaimed "neutralist" Kong Le seized control of Vientiane, and invited Souvannaphouma to lead a new government. Phoumi, who refused to join Souvannaphouma's government, gained the backing of the CIA and in November began...
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The Second Indochina War
Despite the 1962 accords of a second Geneva conference, Laos was being drawn increasingly into the
Second Indochina War
, as North Vietnam and the United States undermined the country's neutrality in the pursuit of their agendas in Vietnam.
...
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The Lao People's Democratic Republic
The US, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Viet Cong at last signed the
Paris Accords
on January 27, 1973, and a ceasefire was established. In April 1974, a coalition government was formed, with Souvannaphouma as prime minister and...
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The new thinking
In November 1986 Kaysone implemented the
New Economic Mechanism
, essentially a market economy, which resulted in less government intrusion in people's lives and an abundance of material goods on the markets. Political changes did not accompany...
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