History of Laos

Prehistory
Archaeological excavation indicates that the early human settlement in Laos territory dated back from as early as 40000 BCE. But it was not until the Neolithic period, prehistoric times in Laos have not been unraveled. It is thought that the society here has flourished since the first millennium BCE based on burial sites found in Luang Namtha, Houaphanh and Xieng Khouang.
The most known ancient cemetery in Laos is the Plain of Jars located in Xieng Khoang with relics of thousands of giant stone jars found across Xieng Khoang plateau. Archaeological evidence shows that agricultural society developed in the 4th millennium BCE. Then a complex society with bronze objects appeared around 1500 BC, and iron tools were known from 700 BCE.

Periods of Kingdoms
Around 2000 BCE, Mon-Khmer speaking peoples migrated from the southwest of China and India to mainland Southeast Asia. They started to develop their own political regime, cultural and social ideology. Old Indian ideas such as language, script, literature and arts, ... are gradually assimilated. With their growth, the Mon people formed a large canton and built a mandala, known as Dvaravati, in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok around the 6th to 11th centuries. After that, they extended their power to northern Myanmar and Thailand.
However, The Khmer took the power of the Mon people to establish the Khmer kingdom, which stretched as far north as Vientiane. During the late 14th century, the kingdom of Lane Xang Hom Khao (means One Million Elephants) was formed on the land of Muang Xiang Dong Xiang Thong (modern Luang Prabang).

Over the following centuries, Laos repeatedly had to resist the invasions of Vietnam, Burma and Siam (Thailand). The end of the 16th century witnessed the vicissitudes of the Kingdom after the deaths key man one after another. The conflict between factions and repeated invasions caused Lane Xang to split into three smaller kingdoms, including Luang Prabang in the north, Vientiane in the center, and Champasak in the south.

The Siamese influence in the area grew steadily, and by the middle of the 18th century Ayutthaya made precise contributions from all three countries. At the same time, the three kingdoms found themselves trapped in conflicts and increasingly torn between two rival powers, Siam and Vietnam.

French rule
From 1859, The French invaded Saigon - Vietnam and that was also the beginning of the colonial era of Laos. At this time, Luang Prabang was raided by the Black Flag Army from China. France rescued and brought Luang Phrabang into protected land. After that, they were resolved to annex the territories of Laos, so the Kingdom of Champasak and Vientiane also became the protectorate of France. In 1893 the French officially forced the status of a protectorate on Laos.

World War II changed the situation. In March 1945, when Japan occupied French Indochina, King Sisavangvong was forced to declare an independent state. However, five months after the Japanese surrendered, he quickly turned to re-establish the protectorate of France.
From 1945 until 1954, the resistance force of Laos against the French was led by Issara (for a short time) and later, Lao Patriotic Front (Neo Lao Hak Xat) with support from Viet Minh (anti-french Vietnamese). Both Laos and Cambodia were given sovereignty over by France in 1953. They signed the Geneva Agreement in 1954 in Vietnam, ending French involvement in Southeast Asia.

Royal Lao Government
After the 1953 French-Laos treaty, Laos regained its independence, but fell into a state of internal conflict, the rivalry between the different clans became increasingly fierce.

In 1958, the Government of National Unification was established, but less than 2 years later, fighting broke out between the Royal Lao Army and the Pathet Lao. In 1962, a second Provisional Government of National Unification was born and but can't keep their power by conflicts, which became a focus for superpower rivalry.

Also since 1960, the US has been deeply involved and increased aid to Laos to deal with a Soviet-backed communist effort to occupy Laos. In 1964, the Royal Lao government allowed the United States to operate independently in this country. In 1964, the Royal Lao government allowed the United States to work independently in this country. In 1965, when the war in Vietnam intensified, American bombers began attacking the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos.

Conflict also took place between the Lao National Army and the Pathet Lao forces backed by the Vietnam Army (Viet Minh). By 1968, when the Pathet Lao and Viet Minh forces began to gain the upper hand, the bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail was increasing. For nearly a decade, the southeastern part of Laos was the site of has been the site of the heaviest bombing attacks in the history of warfare.

Until 1973, the Paris Peace Agreements between Washington and Hanoi was signed, a cease-fire took place between Pathet Laos and the Government leading to the creation of a new government. After April 30, 1975, Pathet Lao, with the help of Vietnam, was able to seize all power. On December 2, 1975, the king was forced to abdicate and the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established. The new communist government is led by Kaysone Phomvihane (as Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP)).

Laos since 1975
In December 1975 the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was declared the ruling party of the newly-christened People's Democratic Republic of Laos. The LPRP has governed the country ever since.
The first decade after 1975 was a period of considerable hardship for the people of Laos. About 10 percent of the population had left the country, including many of the educated and skilled.

From 1975 and 1985, Laos's economy developed but at a very low level, it was barely enough to support the population. Therefore, in the late 1980s, Laos implemented a policy of loosening economic control.

At the Party Congress of 1986, the leadership announced a series of economic and social reforms known collectively as chintanakan mai (new imagination or renovation). Central to these reforms was the adoption of the New Economic Mechanism (NEM), which was designed to shift the economy away from central planning and towards limited free enterprise, at the same time opening the doors to foreign investment. These reforms have had a positive impact on the development of private enterprises, foreign tourist arrivals, foreign trade and foreign investment, and over the past decade GDP growth in Laos has averaged six per cent.

Through the application of new rice varieties and improved techniques, rice production in Laos has increased significantly. Lao PDR achieved a net balance of rice imports and exports in 1999, especially among the countries with the largest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Besides, the typical product of Laos beer is widely recognized and exported to some neighboring countries. Laos economy also receives many aids, investment, socio-economic development of the country, especially the tourism industry.