TIBETAN IMPORTANT EVENTS
20,000 years ago, archaeological discoveries indicate that early humans began leaving their footprints on this plateau.
In the 5th century BCE
Prince Shenrab Miwo founded the indigenous Bön religion in Tibet. Bön believes in animism, venerates nature, and centers its religious practices on shamanism and divination. Its rituals are conducted by shamans, traditionally hereditary positions held by the offspring of nobles.
In the 2nd century BCE
A young man named Nyatri Tsenpo descended from the heavens via a celestial ladder and was carried back to the tribe by the Yarlung people, becoming the first leader of the Tibetan tribe.​
In the 7th century
Songtsen Gampo unified the plateau and established the Tibetan Empire. One of his ministers created the Tibetan script, while another arranged his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.​
In the 8th century
Tibetan leader Trisong Detsen invited the Indian Tantric master Padmasambhava to Tibet, solidifying Buddhism's status in the region.​
By the mid-9th century
Tibet entered a 400-year period of fragmentation and division. Politically, it was a tumultuous era, but it was also a golden age for the development of Buddhism, which flourished during this time.​
In 1055
the Nyingma school (Red Sect) began to take shape.​
In 1073
the Sakya school (Flower Sect) emerged.​
In 1121
the Kagyu school (White Sect) was established.​
In 1270
Sakya monk Phagpa was appointed as the Imperial Preceptor by the Yuan Dynasty, gaining control over Tibet's political and religious affairs. This marked the beginning of Tibet's unique system combining political and religious power.​
In 1283
​the Karma Kagyu lineage (commonly known as the "Black Hat Sect") implemented the system of reincarnated lamas (tulkus) for the first time.
In 1409
Tsongkhapa founded Ganden Monastery northeast of Lhasa, formally establishing the Gelug school (Yellow Sect).
In 1578
the Gelug monk Sonam Gyatso was granted the title "Dalai Lama" by Altan Khan, leader of the Tümed Mongols. As Sonam Gyatso was the third incarnation, he became known as the Third Dalai Lama.
In 1645
the Fifth Dalai Lama began the construction of the Potala Palace, which was finally completed in 1693.
​
another Gelug monk, Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, received the title "Panchen Bogd" (meaning "Great Scholar") from the Tümed Mongol leader, Altan Khan. Traditionally, he is considered the Fourth Panchen Lama. In 1713, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty conferred upon the then Panchen Lama the title "Panchen Erdeni," with "Erdeni" meaning "treasure" in Manchu.
In 1904
British forces led by Francis Younghusband entered Lhasa, marking a rare instance of foreign military presence in Tibet.
In 1951
the Central People's Government of China and the local government of Tibet signed the "Seventeen-Point Agreement".
In 1959
the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, establishing a government-in-exile in Dharamshala
