Fall

After King Ramkhamhaeng died, Sukhothai slowly became weaker. New kingdoms grew stronger nearby, especially Ayutthaya to the south. There were wars, pressure from stronger neighbors, and loss of control over land.

By the early 1400s, Sukhothai became a tributary state and was later absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was not destroyed, but it lost independence.

Even so, Sukhothai still matters today. It helped shape:

• Thai language and writing
  
  

• Thai Buddhism
  
  

• Art, architecture, and culture

Today, its ruins are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reminding people that Sukhothai was the birthplace of Thai civilization.