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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. |
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