Figure 1.--This photo was taken about 2002 by an Italian trekker on on east mountainside of Mount Everest. He met a family of Tibetan nomad shepherds with their yak flock. All the time he was camped near this family, the boys were barefoot.

Tibet is a mountaneous and plateau region of central Asia, north-east of the towering Himalayas. The average height above sea level is 4,900, an elevation that is more like the highest peaks in many with hugh mountains. It is homeland of the Tibetan people in addition to several other ethnic groups,including the Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas. Tibetians are Mongolian origin, but speak Tibetian. In modern times substantian numbers of Han Chinese and Hui people, a largely Muslim group from western China, settled in Tibet. Tibet is the most elevated country in the world. China first emerged in written history as a unified country (7th century). The Empire declined as into various divided territories. Tibetian monarchies retained at least nominal control of western and central Tibet. They ruled from Lhasa, Shigatse, or other nearby locations. These Tibetian monarchies were over time under various degrees of control by either the Moingols or Chinese. The eastern regions of Tibet (Kham and Amdobe) came separated from the rest of the original Empire. In these eastern regions, a varying number of substantial number of small principalities and tribal groups emerged. Unlike the west, no centeralized power emerged. China gradually achieved more direct control of this area and there was an influx of Han Chinese. Most of these area became the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai. Tibet was conquered by China (1720). China has since claimed soverignity, although often only nominally. This changed temporarily with the fall of the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty (1912). Local authoritie disarmed and expelled the Chinese soldiers. Tibet then declared its independence (1913). Tibet was able to maintain its independence until the victiory of the Chinese Communists in the Civil War (1949). Chinese Communists soldiers during the Korean War invaded and occuupied China (1951). The Chinese abolished the Tibetian Government (1959). China now rules Tibet as the western and central Tibet as the Tibet Autonomous Region. As is the practice of Communist regimes, the 'Automous' aspect of the name is pure fiction. The eastern areas were largely annexed to the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. The Chinese Government to increase its control over Tibet and promoted the migrantion of Han Chinese into Tibet. The Tibetian pobulation is very traditional and there have been perodic uprisings put down by the Chinese. Exile groups led by the Dali-Llama are active, primarily in India. Little modern technology reached Tibet and the country has an economy based primatily on subsistence agriculture and herding. Agriculture is limited by the mountaneous terraine. There arev mineral resources, but traditional Tibetian goivernment restricted mining. Tourism has considerable potential, but the Chinese Governent severly restricts outside access to occupied Tibet. The traditional religiuon of Bön survives to a limited extent, but has become basically the sanme as Buddhism. The primary religion in Tibet is Lamaism (a form of Buddhism). Mahayana Buddism arrived from India (7th century AD). This evolved into Lamaism (8th century AD). There are also Muslim and Christian minorities, but are promarily ptracticed by non-Tibetian ethnic groups. The Chinese Government has attempted to discourage religion as was particularly brutal after the initial invasion and during the Cultural Revolution. Staple foods in Tibet are roasted barley, yak meat, and butter tea. We have a Tibetian school page.

Geography

Tibet is a mountaneous and plateau region of central Asia, north-east of the towering Himalayas. Tibet is the most elevated country in the world. The average height above sea level is 4,900, an elevation that is more like the highest peaks in many with hugh mountains.

History

China first emerged in written history as a unified history (7th century). The Empire declined as into various divided territories. Tibetian monarchies retauned at least nominal control of western and central Tibet. They ruled from Lhasa, Shigatse, or other nearby locations. These Tibetian monarchies were over time under various degrees of control by either the Moingols or Chinese. The eastern regions of Tibet (Kham and Amdobe) came separated from the rest of the original Empire. In these eastern regions, a varying number of substantial number of small principalities and tribal groups emerged. Unlike the west, no centeralized power emerged. China gradually achieved more direct control of this area and there was an influx of Han Chinese. Most of these area became the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai. Tibet was conquered by China (1720). China has since claimed soverignity, although often only nominally. This changed temporarily with the fall of the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty (1912). Local authoritie disarmed and expelled the Chinese soldiers. Tibet then declared its independence (1913). Tibet was able to maintain its independence until the victiory of the Chinese Communists in the Civil War (1949). Chinese Communists soldiers during the Korean War invaded and occuupied China (1951). The Chinese abolished the Tibetian Government (1959). China now rules Tibet as the western and central Tibet as the Tibet Autonomous Region. As is the practice of Communist regimes, the 'Automous' aspect of the name is pure fiction. The eastern areas were largely annexed to the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. The Chinese Government to increase its control over Tibet and promoted the migrantion of Han Chinese into Tibet. The Tibetian pobulation is very traditional and there have been perodic uprisings put down by the Chinese. Exile groups led by the Dali-Llama are active, primarily in India.

Ethnicity

Tibet is homeland of the Tibetan people in addition to several other ethnic groups,including the Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas. Tibetians are Mongolian origin, but speak Tibetian. In modern times substantian numbers of Han Chinese and Hui people, a largely Muslim group from western China, settled in Tibet.

Economy

Little modern technology reached Tibet and the country has an economy based primatily on subsistence agriculture and herding. Agriculture is limited by the mountaneous terraine. There arev mineral resources, but traditional Tibetian goivernment restricted mining. Tourism has considerable potential, but the Chinese Governent severly restricts outside access to occupied Tibet. Staple foods in Tibet are roasted barley, yak meat, and butter tea.

Religion

Buddhism is the primary religion of Tibet. It is, however, not the only religion. The Bon religion, the primitive religion of the ancient Tibetans, was flourish before the introduction of Buddhism. Non priests were powerful exerting both both military and economic control even over the country's nobility. The traditional religion of Bön survives to a limited extent, but has become basically the same as Buddhism. Songtsan Gambo (?-650) unified the Tibetan Plateau and established the Tubo Kingdom. To cment control of his new kingsom, he defied the Bon priests by introducing Buddhism. He married Princess Bhributi from Nepal, who brought a life-sized statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 8 years. He then married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), who brought a life-sized statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 12 yeras, as well as 360 volumes of Buddhist sutras as her dowry. This began a najor cultural shit. Chinese culture from the Central Plains began to flow into Tibet. Songtsan Gambo contributed to development of Lamaism when he constructed the Jokhang and Ramqe monasteries in Lhasa, his capital. As a result, the primary religion of Tibet became Lamaism (a form of Buddhism). Mahayana Buddism arrived from India (7th century AD). This evolved into Lamaism (8th century AD). There are also Muslim and Christian minorities, but are primarily ptracticed by non-Tibetian ethnic groups that have moved into Tibet. Tibetan Buddhism is a primary influence on the the country's cilture, including art, music, and festivals of the region. Tibetan architecture reflects Chinese and Indian influences. The Chinese Communist Government has attempted to discourage religion as was particularly brutal after the initial invasion and during the Cultural Revolution.

Education

Tibet is a central Asian country wjich was conquered by China (1720). China has since claimed soverignity, although often only nominally. The Communist government invaded Tibet and has since increased its control over Tibet and promoted the migrantion of ethnic Chinese into Tibet. The Tibetian pobulation is very traditional and there have been perodic uprisings put down by the Chinese. We know little about traditional Tibetian education. The Chinese have developed a modern education system along the lines of the pveral Chinese education system. The Tibetian schools are totally controlled by the Chinese Government.

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Created: 11:37 PM 6/10/2012
Last updated: 11:37 PM 6/10/2012