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