Ancient Laos The earliest inhabitants of Laos were hunter-
gatherers. Later they were farmers growing
rice and pulses. The first farmers used stone tools but from about 2,000 BC bronze was used in Laos and from about 500 BC iron.
However unlike Vietnam the people of Laos
were influenced by Indian rather than Chinese
culture. From the 1st century AD Indian merchants introduced Theravada Buddhism into Laos.
However in the 14th century the ancestors of
today's Laotians founded a kingdom called
Lan Xang. The first king was the ambitious Chao Fa Ngum, who was succeeded by his son Phaya Samsenthai in 1373. He ruled until 1421 and under him Lan Xang became a prosperous kingdom. Unfortunately his successors were less skillful rulers.
In 1804 Anuvong became king of Vientiane.
By 1825 Anuvong had become determined to
overthrow Siamese domination and restore the kingdom of Lan Xang. In 1827 he advanced into Siam but was defeated and forced to retreat. Anuvong fled to Vietnam. Several months later he returned to Vientiane but was captured by the Siamese (Thais) ending all hope of a restored Lan Xang.
The French in Laos
In 1867-68 a Frenchman called Francis Garnier
traveled through Laos. However the French
left Laos alone for two decades. Then in the late 1880s and early 1890s French influence in the area grew. Finally in 1893 the Siamese formally surrendered all territory east of the River Mekong to the French. Laos became part of the French empire in Southeast Asia. However the French took little interest in Laos and few French people lived there.
Laos became part of the French empire in
Southeast Asia. However the French took little
interest in Laos and few French people lived there.
In 1941 the French fought a war with the Thais
for Laotian territory. The Japanese forced an
armistice and parts of Laos were given to Thailand. Then in April 1945 the Japanese forced the pro-French king Sisavang Vong to declare independence from France. Following the Japanese surrender in September 1945 prince Phesarath was prime minister of Laos. He headed a government called Lao Issara (free Lao).
All attempts to find a political solution failed
and in the 1960s Laos became drawn into the
wider Asian War. From 1964 to 1973 the USA bombed Paphet Lao territory but failed to defeat them. Then in 1975 South Vietnam and Cambodia fell to the Communists. Seeing the way things were going Royalists fled from Laos allowing the Paphet Lao to take over. The Lao People's Democratic Republic was founded on 2 December 1975.
A full Communist regime was introduced.
However in 1988 the government of Laos
introduced market reforms. As a result the economy of Laos began to grow rapidly. Today Laos is still a poor country but it is developing rapidly and poverty is declining. Laos also has great potential for tourism. Meanwhile Laos joined ASEAN in 1997. Today the population of Laos is 6.9 million.