HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?

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HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?

Ayutthaya was situated on an island, surrounded by rivers and lakes. A sixth of the area of the Island of Ayutthaya was populated. The populated part was the southwest of the island. The suburbs outside the island were divided into quarters of different nations and craftsmen.

In the 1350s, Ayutthaya was the capital city of Thailand and truly called the water city. It was always

flooded during the rainy season.

• People learn to live and adapt to the water.
• The benefits of the water cause people to change the way they live including their economic and cultural activities to connect with the water.
• The influence of green revolution in 1967 and economic development direction caused the development that set Ayutthaya’s fluid and solid territories apart.

Ayutthaya was laid out according to a systematic and rigid city planning grid, consisting of roads, canals, and moats around all the principal structures. It took maximum advantage of the city’s position amid three rivers and had a hydraulic system for water management which was technologically extremely advanced and unique in the world.

The roads were broad and straight, partially seamed with trees and brick-paved. The houses were

wooden and low built. Most roads were paralleled by canals, which made Ayutthaya looking a bit similar to contemporary Venice. Many wooden, bad built bridges over-spanned the canals. Some few were made of bricks, built crudely.

IMPACT OF TIME AND EVENTS ON AYUTTHAYA

This once-prosperous Siamese trade and political capital go down as the most glorious as well as the

most devastated city in Thai history.

At its peak, it was home to an extensive trading port that welcomed international merchants, many of

whom were from Europe. The city was a memorable one to these travellers because of the many temples and palaces found here. In addition to trading, the waterways that surrounded the city were useful in terms of protecting it, creating a watery fortress of sorts.

The City’s demise It came to a brutal end when it was attacked by the Burmese. Much of the city was

devastated by fire, and those who were not killed were taken by the Burmese and forced into slavery.

The city fell in 1767. Most of the city was destroyed, and what is left of these relics and temples are still found in Ayutthaya today, of which there are about 50.

The Ruins- Many of the palaces were made of wood which did not withstand the fires that destroyed the capital – which is why mainly stone temples remain. The temples have their own Siamese style, but many of the temples’ construction drew upon inspiration from other influences, including Sri Lanka. There are also instances of Khmer architecture, as the capital started as a Khmer military and trading outpost.

These ruins were discovered in 1991, and they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

REFERENCES-

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-ancient-ruins-of-ayutthaya-in-thailand/

https://architectureofbuddhism.com/books/beginners-guide-ayutthaya/

https://www.archdaily.com/240595/water-city-proposal-shma