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Postcard from Thailand
Classroom Worksheet · Key Stage 3
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya
Name:
Class:
Date:
1 The facts first
Recall · answer in full sentences
Describe where Ayutthaya was built, and explain how its position helped it become one of the greatest trading cities on Earth.
Ayutthaya was the capital for more than 400 years, under 33 kings. What does the film say the kings built, and what does that tell us about their wealth and power?
2 Digging deeper
Analysis · think like a historian
Ayutthaya had French, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese communities all living together. What are the advantages — and the possible challenges — of a city being such a crossroads of cultures?
The film says that when you visit Bangkok today, "you're really seeing the child of this great old city." Explain what this means, and give one example of something modern Thailand inherited from Ayutthaya.
3 Quick check
Circle the correct answer
1. The main reason Ayutthaya grew so rich was…
it had gold mines under the city
its position on rivers made it a great trading port
it never allowed any foreigners in
2. "Bangkok is the child of Ayutthaya" is a way of saying…
Bangkok is older than Ayutthaya
modern Thailand inherited its culture and traditions from Ayutthaya
the two cities are enemies
4 Cause and consequence
Match each cause to what it led to
History is a chain of causes and consequences. Draw a line linking each of Ayutthaya's advantages to what it helped bring about.
Cause
Built on an island by three rivers
Traders came from many nations
Powerful kings ruled for centuries
Its ideas were passed on to Bangkok
Consequence
Grand golden temples and art were created
Modern Thai culture still carries its mark
It became a wealthy world trading port
Many languages and cultures mixed in one city
5 The bigger question
Transfer · thinking beyond Thailand
Think like a global citizen
Ayutthaya rose to be one of the greatest cities on Earth — and then fell, leaving ruins. But its ideas lived on in the city that followed it. This is a pattern we see all over the world and all through history.
Apply it: Choose one and write a short response (3–5 sentences).
- Why do you think great cities and civilisations rise and then fall? Suggest more than one reason.
- Even when a city falls, its culture can live on in the places that come after. Can you think of another example, from anywhere in the world?
6 Extended writing
Develop an argument
Your task. Write a paragraph (5–8 sentences) responding to this question:
“What made Ayutthaya great — its location, its trade, its rulers, or its openness to the world? Which mattered most?”
Try to: give your opinion clearly · use reasons and examples from the film · consider more than one factor · reach a thoughtful conclusion.