Myanmar was first united as a single kingdom in 1044 under the ruler Anawrahta. In the 19th century the British took control of Myanmar and governed it from 1886 to 1937. Finally, Myanmar gained independence from the British in 1948. The Union of Myanmar was known as Burma until mid-1989 when the country's name was changed to quiet protests by ethnic minorities. Thailand has a much different history. Unlike Myanmar, they were never controlled by another country during colonial times. Thailand was known as Siam for a long time. In 1939, the name was changed to a more nationalistic name, Land of the Thais, which means, "free