Tibet

Tibet, autonomous region of China in central Asia, bordering Myanmar (Burma), India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim. The capital is Lhasa.

Land and climate

Tibet's area is 471,662 sq mi (1,221,600 sq km), and the region averages 15,000 ft (4,570 m) in altitude. Tibet is often called the “Roof of the World.” The tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest (29,028 ft/8,848 m above sea level), is in the Himalaya, the world's tallest mountain chain. The Himalaya rise along the southern end of the Plateau of Tibet. The Kunlun Mountains in the north are almost as high as the Himalayas. The Brahmaputra, Indus, and Yangtze rivers rise in Tibet. The winters are dry and intensely cold; summers, hot and humid.

People

Tibetans follow Buddhist Lamaism, headed by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. Until 1965 there were many monasteries, involving 20% of the male population as monks. After 1965, the Chinese Communists decreased emphasis on religion.

Economy

The pastoral, livestock-based economy has been affected by roadbuilding and new cement, chemical, paper, textile, and other industries. Tibet has deposits of coal and iron (exploited in the northeast) and other minerals.

History

Tibet was a powerful kingdom during the A.D. 600s, flourishing until the early eighteenth century, when it fell under Chinese control. In 1911 Tibet expelled the Chinese, but friction remained between the 2 countries until 1950, when China invaded again. An agreement signed in 1951 ended Tibetan sovereignty, but allowed self-government and freedom of religion and speech. However, Chinese rule became steadily more oppressive, and in the mid-1950s Chinese rule in eastern Tibet caused open dissent and a revolt (1959) that was ruthlessly suppressed. The Dalai Lama fled from the capital Lhasa to India, and in 1965 Tibet became an autonomous region. After 20 years of periodic rioting and unrest in Tibet, the Chinese began a policy of liberalization, decentralizing the economy and allowing a degree of freedom of religion. However, massive rioting again erupted during the late 1980s and the Chinese declared a state of martial law and sent in troups. Unrest continues in Tibet today. In 1993 there were talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, but this did not result in a change of Chinese policy. In 1995 the persecution of the followers of the Dalai Lama increased.

See also: China.