The Chiangmai-Lamphun Valley Cultural Economic Zone

Abstract

This paper presents the idea of a “cultural economic zone,” which communities carry out economic and social activities in the same geographic area. The communities share experiences and beliefs, and have developed a common style of production and trade. A relationship is thus created among the people and, as they share cultural similarities, they are bonded into a unit. Each unit in the Chiangmai-Lamphun valley has developed its own unique cultural economic zone and interacted and bonded with other units, forming a complex network very similar to a federation. The paper points out the thoughts and ideology that have governed peopleus minds, which may be traced back as long as thousands of years.