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Laos
history and travel information
Stone tool discovered in Huaphan and
Luang Prabang province attest the presence of
prehistoric man in its stage of hunters and
gatherers over the Lao territory since at least
40,000 years ago. Agriculturist seemed to appear
during the 4th millennia BC as evidences have been
found by archeologists - jar burials and other kinds
of sepulchers have revealed a complex society in
which Bronze objects appeared around 1500 BC and in
iron tools were known since 700 BC the proto
historic period characterized by contacts with
Chinese and Indian civilizations. As a result
between the fourth and eighth century.
Between the fourth communities along the Mekong
River began to from into townships, so-called Muang.
This development culminated in the formation of the
Lane Xang (million elephants) kingdom in 1353 by
king FaNgum and established Xieng Thong now know as
Luang Prabang to capital of Lane Xang Kingdom.
 The
Kingdom was further expended by his successors, one
of most notable being king Setthathirat who ruled
from 1548-1571. He moved the capital to Vientiane
and built That Luang Stupa, a venerated religious
shrine and a temple to house the Phra Kao, the
Emerald Buddha.
In the seventeenth century, under the reign of King
Souriyavongsa, the Lane Xuang Kingdom enters its
most illustrious era. The country established first
contacts with Europeans. In 1641, a Dutch merchant
of the East India Company, Grett Van Wuysthoff, and
letter, the Titian missionaries Lera de Marini
visited the Kingdom of Lane Xang and described
Vientiane as the most magnificent city of Southeast
Asia.
After this golden age a palatial intrigue followed
by fighting for the throne led the break-up to Lane
Xang into the three Kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang
Prabang and champassack which weakened or of them
and created opportunities for few foreign aggressors
to invade.
The unsuccessful challenge of the Siamese by King
Anouvong resulted in the virtual destruction of
Vientiane. The Siamese look at the Emerald Buddha to
Bangkok where it remains today.
Laos was put under the French administration in
1893. To recover its full rights and its
sovereignty. The Laos people started fighting
against the French regime. Under the leadership of
the communist Party of Indochina (founded in 1930).
The struggle for the self-determination and
independence of Laos, Vientiane& Cambodia culminated
this long period of military and political upheaval
The situation worsened during the Vietnam War
although the Geneva accord of 1962 had recognized
the neutrality of Laos and forbade the presence of
all foreign military personnel. By bombing the
portion The Ho Chi Minh trail crossing Laos, U S
force dropped more bombs on Laos than they did
worldwide during World War II.
On a per capital basis Laos is hence the most
heavily bombed nation in history. Especially in
Huaphan and Xieng Khouang province, where
international teams are still clearing the
terrain-unexploded ordinance, people still suffer
the legacy of the war
In the 1975 under the leadership of Laos people's
Revolutionary, victory after victory war scored
until finally Laos people gained power in a
bloodless take-over, establishing the People's
Democratic Republic on December 2. It was the
culmination of a successful struggle national
liberation, and reinstatement of total independence.
At present the multi ethnic Laos People are making
efforts to defend develop Laos Line with the new
policy of the party and government in order to lead
the country to progress and prosperity. perity.
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