The History Of Tibet - Main Events

The history of Tibet has been characterized by turmoil for many ages. The highest nation on earth with its unique culture has become the subject of destruction and its ecosystem is now endangered by the region's historical developments.

Before the 7th century introduction of Buddhism, Shamanism was the predominant religion of the Tibetans. This occurred when Tibet had undergone Buddhist missionaries coming from India in order to begin an alphabet system for their Tibetan language. This began heavy translations of Buddhist texts.
While this was happening, Tibet was an incredibly strong kingdom. However, things began to fall apart by the 10th century. Tibet separated into several principalities in this time.

In 1206, Genghis Khan, united countless nomadic tribes that were in northeast Asia, and thus integrated Tibet in his empire. He, as well as his descendants, was a ruthless conqueror including captivating many countries.

A startling event in the history of Tibet happened in the mid-1600's, for that was when the Mongols permitted the Dalai Lama (a reincarnated monk who is filled with extraordinary wisdom) to actually encompass political power within Tibet. This event happened after the Dalai Lama was named the head of the Gelugpa order, one of the four major orders of Tibetan Buddhism, within the 15th century.
China came to Tibet to establish control of it, but Tibet followed with a nasty rebellion that included ridding themselves of any of the Chinese military and also any of its officials.

This led to a in which the British tried to establish solid boundaries via a truce. In 1918, a fierce battle took place, which caused the loss of many lives.

Strife continued but in 1950, Qamdo (Chamdo) had been invaded by Communist Troops, and Tibet was forced to sign the "Seventeen Points Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet". This was a new chapter in the history of Tibet.

The 14th Dalai Lama, who assumed powers as the Head of State in 1950, left Tibet in 1959 and formed a government in exile, operating from India. Since then, the Chinese violated the articles of the agreement that had been reached .

The Chinese government regards Tibet as a province of China. Immigration from China is growing and education at higher levels is conducted in the Chinese language exclusively. Monks and nuns are viewed suspiciously by the Chinese and are often subjected to beatings and incarceration.

Strict quotas control the number of resident monks and nuns, study has been restricted and monks under the threat of imprisonment still involuntarily denounce the Dalai Lama.

Today the Chinese have economic control and are crowding out Tibetans. The Chinese quarters of towns, which are quite distinctive with their white tile and blue glass buildings, are growing larger in comparison to Tibetan quarters.
Systematic persecution has been replaced with far more sophisticated and underhanded methods, through re-education, mass immigration and economic control - a repressive recipe to swallow Tibet as an independent nation and regurgitate it as a Chinese province.

Learn more about the history of Tibet

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