Among his accomplishments, King Ramkhamhaeng succeeded in consolidating the Thai Kingdom by extending Thai suzerainty over other cities as his power and as geographical factors permitted. In terms of geography, rivers offer a natural route of communication, Therefore, in cases in which they are used as boundaries, this would be merely for the purpose of providing a clearly delimited boundary line. Mountains, on the other hand, are obstacles; therefore, they form a natural boundary which is even more clearly delimited.
The expansion of the Thai Kingdom started along the banks of the Chao Phya River and eventually reached the Mekong River basin. During a time when sailboats were still used for navigation, passage to the Indian Ocean was heavily dependent on the monsoon winds. It was therefore easier to travel by land through Tenasserim and Mergui than to journey by sea around the Malay Peninsula. For this reason, Mergui became an important trading post for advancing the economic prosperity of the Thai Kingdom. Expansion in that direction was therefore natural, especially since the local inhabitants in that area were Mon, a people who got along well with the Thais. Southward expansion towards the Malay Peninsula was also deemed appropriate. Beyond the Mekong River basin, however, were the Banthat Yuan mountains, or Annamese Cordilleras. The Yuan, or Annamese, had a culture akin to that of the Chinese. Expansion beyond the Banthat Yuan mountains was therefore considered unnecessary.
King Ramkhamhaeng expanded the boundaries of the Thai Kingdom all the way to Luang Prabang and Vientiane on the Mekong River. In the northeast, Phayao and Chiengmai were under Thai suzerainty but were allowed to remain free, and friendly relations were maintained with the two city-states. In the central region, Lopburi and Ayutthaya remained independent as evidence by the fact that Law Hok Kok (Lawo) had dispatched an embassy to China in 1289. To the west, the boundaries of the Thai Kingdom were extended to the Indian Ocean and encompassed Tavoy and Tenasserim (including Mergui). To the south, the Kingdom 's boundaries reached Malacca.
King Ramkhamhaeng conducted diplomacy in a prudent manner, maintaining cordial relations with Phya Mengrai and Phya Ngammuang, both of whom were Thai rulers. Although some differences existed among them, especially between King Ramkhamhaeng and Phya Ngammuang, this did not lead to armed conflict, and it was usually left to Phya Mengrai to act as mediator.
In 1282, China sent an envoy to conclude a treaty of friendship with Sukhothai. King Ramkhamhaeng himself also travelled twice to China in 1294 and 1300. On the latter occasion, he brought back with him skilled artisans from China to produce the pottery known as Sangkhalok or Sawankhalok, which was later exported to other countries and which has remained renowned till the present day.
There was also intercourse between Sukhothai and Ceylon in the realm of religion. A number of Thais entered the monkhood in Ceylon and brought back that country 's sect of Buddhism. The Phra Buddhasihing Buddha image was also obtained from Ceylon.
It is therefore apparent that King Ramkhamhaeng 's diplomatic pursuits contributed to the progress of the Thai Kingdom, not only in terms of foreign relations but also in the area of religion (with Ceylon) and trade (with China).
Among his accomplishments, King Ramkhamhaeng succeeded in consolidating the Thai Kingdom by extending Thai suzerainty over other cities as his power and as geographical factors permitted. In terms of geography, rivers offer a natural route of communication, Therefore, in cases in which they are used as boundaries, this would be merely for the purpose of providing a clearly delimited boundary line. Mountains, on the other hand, are obstacles; therefore, they form a natural boundary which is even more clearly delimited. The expansion of the Thai Kingdom started along the banks of the Chao Phya River and eventually reached the Mekong River basin. During a time when sailboats were still used for navigation, passage to the Indian Ocean was heavily dependent on the monsoon winds. It was therefore easier to travel by land through Tenasserim and Mergui than to journey by sea around the Malay Peninsula. For this reason, Mergui became an important trading post for advancing the economic prosperity of the Thai Kingdom. Expansion in that direction was therefore natural, especially since the local inhabitants in that area were Mon, a people who got along well with the Thais. Southward expansion towards the Malay Peninsula was also deemed appropriate. Beyond the Mekong River basin, however, were the Banthat Yuan mountains, or Annamese Cordilleras. The Yuan, or Annamese, had a culture akin to that of the Chinese. Expansion beyond the Banthat Yuan mountains was therefore considered unnecessary. King Ramkhamhaeng expanded the boundaries of the Thai Kingdom all the way to Luang Prabang and Vientiane on the Mekong River. In the northeast, Phayao and Chiengmai were under Thai suzerainty but were allowed to remain free, and friendly relations were maintained with the two city-states. In the central region, Lopburi and Ayutthaya remained independent as evidence by the fact that Law Hok Kok (Lawo) had dispatched an embassy to China in 1289. To the west, the boundaries of the Thai Kingdom were extended to the Indian Ocean and encompassed Tavoy and Tenasserim (including Mergui). To the south, the Kingdom 's boundaries reached Malacca. King Ramkhamhaeng conducted diplomacy in a prudent manner, maintaining cordial relations with Phya Mengrai and Phya Ngammuang, both of whom were Thai rulers. Although some differences existed among them, especially between King Ramkhamhaeng and Phya Ngammuang, this did not lead to armed conflict, and it was usually left to Phya Mengrai to act as mediator. In 1282, China sent an envoy to conclude a treaty of friendship with Sukhothai. King Ramkhamhaeng himself also travelled twice to China in 1294 and 1300. On the latter occasion, he brought back with him skilled artisans from China to produce the pottery known as Sangkhalok or Sawankhalok, which was later exported to other countries and which has remained renowned till the present day. There was also intercourse between Sukhothai and Ceylon in the realm of religion. A number of Thais entered the monkhood in Ceylon and brought back that country 's sect of Buddhism. The Phra Buddhasihing Buddha image was also obtained from Ceylon. It is therefore apparent that King Ramkhamhaeng 's diplomatic pursuits contributed to the progress of the Thai Kingdom, not only in terms of foreign relations but also in the area of religion (with Ceylon) and trade (with China).
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