Tibet: A History

Situated north of the Himalayas, Tibet is famous for its unique culture
and its controversial assimilation into modern China. Yet Tibet in the
twenty-first century can only be properly understood in the context of
its extraordinary history.Sam van Schaik brings the history of Tibet to
life by telling the stories of the people involved, from the glory days
of the Tibetan empire in the seventh century through to the present day.
He explores the emergence of Tibetan Buddhism and the rise of the Dalai
Lamas, Tibet's entanglement in the "Great Game" in the early twentieth
century, its submission to Chinese Communist rule in the 1950s, and the
troubled times of recent decades.Tibet sheds light on the country's
complex relationship with China and explains often-misunderstood aspects
of its culture, such as reborn lamas, monasteries and hermits, The
Tibetan Book of the Dead, and the role of the Dalai Lama. Van Schaik
works through the layers of history and myth to create a compelling
narrative, one that offers readers a greater understanding of this
important and controversial corner of the world.