Page "History of Thailand" Paragraph 40

Beginning with arrival of Portuguese ambassador Duarte Fernandes in 1511, Ayutthaya, known to the Europeans as ' Kingdom of Siam ', came into contact with the West during the 16th century.

It became one of the most prosperous cities in East Asia.

According to George Modelski, Ayutthaya is estimated to have been the largest city in the world in 1700 CE, with a population of around 1 million.

Trade flourished with the Dutch and French among the most active foreigners in the kingdom together with the Chinese and Japanese.