History of Tibet. Prior to China’s invasion in 1950, Tibet maintained a unique culture, religion and language for centuries. Today, this culture is under threat from mass Chinese immigration and the strict control of all expressions of Tibetan culture and national identity. China boasts of huge investment in Tibet but its economic development is primarily intended to cement its hold on …

The Tibetan Buddhists who worship serene lakes, snow-capped peaks, and all things white could not have settled in a more perfect part of the world. Tibet may have been closed off to most outsiders for centuries, but its own proud history dates back to the middle of the 7th century, when Tibetan Empire founder Songstan Gampo married two princesses, one Nepalese and the …

For two millennia, Tibetan culture developed north of the Himalayas, gradually spreading through much of Central Asia. Home to an extensive monastic system and a vibrant lay culture, Tibetans thrived on scarce resources in a harsh climate. Today, Tibet is an illegally occupied country.

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.