Phuket has a very rich and varied history which stretches back thousands of years. It was even mentioned in classic literature by the famous Greek philosopher Ptolemy, who remarked that ships on route to the Malay peninsula had to pass Junk Ceylon as it was known in those times. This name can still be seen on old Siam maps today, but has since been eclipsed by the modern day moniker Phuket, which is derived from a Malay word that means hill. Previous names also included Koh Thalang, which is still a town in the northern district. There have been many outside influences on Phuket throughout the ages, both eastern and western, and it was an important and essential trading post with the Arabs, Malays, Indians, Burmese, Chinese and Siamese, being a convenient stopover and a sheltered haven for traders’ boats.