The history of Tibet can be divided into several key periods:
Early History
- Tubo Dynasty (7th–9th Century): The Tubo Dynasty was the first unified regime on the Tibetan Plateau, covering parts of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It had close interactions with the Chinese Tang Dynasty, including the marriage of Songtsen Gampo, the Tubo king, to Princess Wencheng from the Tang Dynasty.
Integration with China
- Yuan Dynasty (13th–14th Century): Tibet became part of the Yuan Dynasty’s territory, with the central government appointing officials, stationing troops, and collecting taxes in the region.
- Ming and Qing Dynasties (14th–19th Century): The Ming and Qing dynasties continued to exercise sovereignty over Tibet, appointing local officials and implementing various governance policies.
Modern Era
- Republic of China Period (Early 20th Century): The central government maintained its sovereignty over Tibet, with the 13th Dalai Lama leading reforms to strengthen local governance.
- People’s Republic of China Period (Since 1949):
- Peaceful Liberation (1951): On May 23, 1951, the 17-Article Agreement on measures for the peaceful liberation of Tibet was signed between representatives of the Central People’s Government and the local government of Tibet, marking the peaceful liberation of the region.
- Democratic Reform (1959): In 1959, democratic reform was launched, abolishing feudal serfdom and emancipating a million serfs and slaves.
- Establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region (1965): In September 1965, the First Session of the First People’s Congress of Tibet was convened, proclaiming the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Over the past seven decades since the peaceful liberation, Tibet has experienced historic changes and achieved significant progress in various fields, including economic development, social progress, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.