Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas, in the People's
Republic of China. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic
groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas,
and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people. Tibet is the highest region on
earth, with an average elevation of 4,900 meters (16,000 ft).
Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire, but it soon divided into a
variety of territories. The bulk of western and central Tibet (Ü-Tsang) were often at least nominally
unified under a series of Tibetan governments in Lhasa,
Shigatse, or nearby locations; these
governments were at various times under Mongol and Chinese overlordship. The
eastern regions of Kham and Amdo
often maintained a more decentralized indigenous political structure, being
divided among a number of small principalities and tribal groups, while also
often falling more directly under Chinese rule; most of this area was
eventually incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai. The current borders
of Tibet were generally established in the 18th century. Following the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912, Qing soldiers were
disarmed and escorted out of Tibet
Area (Ü-Tsang). The region declared its independence in 1913. Later Lhasa took
control of the western part of Xikang Province. The region maintained its
autonomy until 1951 when, following the Invasion of Tibet, Tibet was assimilated
into the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the
previous Tibetan government was abolished in 1959 after a failed uprising.
Today, the PRC governs western and central Tibet as the Tibet Autonomous
Region while eastern areas are mostly within Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. There are tensions
regarding Tibet's political status and dissident groups are active
in exile.
