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Tibetan texts refer to the kingdom of Zhangzhung (c. 500 BCE – 625 CE) as the precursor of later Tibetan kingdoms and the originators of the Bon religion. While mythical accounts of early rulers of the Yarlung Dynasty exist, historical accounts begin with the introduction of Tibetan script from the unified Tibetan Empire in the 7th century.
The name Tibet is derived from the Mongolian Thubet, the Chinese Tufan, the Tai Thibet, and the Arabic Tubbat. Before the 1950s Tibet was largely isolated from the rest of the world. It constituted a unique cultural and religious community, marked by the Tibetan language and Tibetan Buddhism.
According to Tibetan legend, the Tibetan people originated from the union of a monkey and a female demon. The Chinese Tang dynasty annals (10th century ce) place the Tibetans’ origin among the nomadic pastoral Qiang tribes recorded about 200 bce as inhabiting the great steppe northwest of China.
Cries ring out around the world to free Tibet from Chinese control. Learn more about the history and geography of Tibet and life under Chinese rule.
The history of a unified Tibet begins with the rule of Songtsen Gampo (604–650 CE), who united parts of the Yarlung River Valley and founded the Tibetan Empire. He also brought in many reforms, and Tibetan power spread rapidly, creating a large and powerful empire.
Today we sketch out the history of the short-lived Tibetan Empire, the man who was instrumental in its rise, and above all, its eventual demise. A modern road leading through the vast Tibetan Plateau where the Tibetan Empire has its earliest roots in local pastoralist tribes.
7th-9th century - Namri Songzen and descendants begin to unify Tibetan-inhabited areas and conquer neighbouring territories, in competition with China. 822 - Peace treaty with China...
Tibet - Autonomy, Religion, Culture: In the mid-19th century the Tibetans repeatedly rebuffed overtures from the British, who saw Tibet at first as a trade route to China and later as countenancing Russian advances that might endanger India.
In the 7th and 8th centuries, under Srong-btsan sgam-po and his successors, Tibet is a unified kingdom exercising power over an area well beyond the Tibetan plateau, including important regions on the Silk road such as Kashgar and Khotan. In 763 a Tibetan army even invades T'ang China and briefly captures the capital at Xi'an.
From around 618 CE to 650 CE, Tibet was under the powerful reign of Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of the Yarlung Dynasty. His reign was characterized by many important events in Tibetan history. Buddhism was officially introduced, as well as a written script for the Tibetan language.