Throughout its long history Phuket has always been a lure for peoples from beyond its shores. The earliest known mention of the island comes from the records of Ptolemy, a Greek geographer from the third century A.D. In his Geographia he mentions that when making a trip from Suwannapum to the Malay Peninsula it was necessary to pass the cape of Jang Si Lang. Jang Si Lang is often translated as ‘Junk Ceylon’ and it is by this name that Phuket is known on ancient maps of Thailand.

During the first millennium A.D. Phuket appears to have been a part of the Shivite Empire (known as the Tom Porn Ling in Thai) which was based on the Malay Peninsula. Later it was a part of the Srivichai and Siri Tahm Empires which ruled over 12 cities, of which Phuket was the 11th. During this period Phuket was known primarily by its emblem - the dog.

Thai control of Phuket began when the Sukothai Period began in the 13th century. Phuket became associated with Takua – Pah in what is now Phang Nga province. Despite its small size Phuket became economically important due to its natural reserves of ivory, gems, natural pearls, hides, spices, firewood, caulk for ship hulls, and ambergris - the valuable slime emitted by whales which is used as a cloying agent in Western perfumes. Even then Phuket saw a diverse array of visitors step onto her shores, from Malay pirates to Arabian traders, Tamil merchants, Han dynasty traders and Portuguese explorers. (Read more...)