History of Laos
Although people have been living in the region of today's Laos for years, it is unknown when they arrived and little is known about the early people as there was no written history. In fact, most of Laos's history is unknown as there are few written records of their past, leading to most historical accounts being based on archeological evidence, logical guesses, and local mythology. The history of Laos taught in Laos and their history taught abroad seems to vastly differ as well.
The Lao culture and ethnicity most likely began development in about the 800s AD, but the culture, ethnicity, and people didn't fully develop or make their way to modern day Laos until later centuries.
The earliest Lao people seemed to have lived off the land as farmers and may have immigrated to the region in the 1200s, perhaps with their relatives, the Thais and Burmese. At this time the people living in the region were most likely related to the Khmers of Cambodia, Dvaravati, and numerous other ethnic groups. The immigrating people most likely, to some degree, fought the locals and, to some degree, intermarried these people to create the Lao people.