Thailand is claimed to be a very ancient country with a very old civilization of Buddhism. Most of her civilization developed with the adoption at Thavaravadi. Thavaravadi was occupied by a Mon Civilization and was an "Indian" culture, as Theravada Buddhism was the dominant religion. Later, Thailand had been replaced by the power of the over-expanding Khmer empire to the East, and whose dominance continued in Thailand until the 13th century. However this dominance could not continue for long. In the century itself the Thai people themselves became dominant, under the leadership of the first Thai King Srintratit around 1,238 and Sukhothai was made the first capital of the Thai Kingdom