Tibetan history can be traced thousands of years back, according to the recent archeology discoveries in different parts of Tibet, the original inhabitants began to live in the highlands as early as the Palaeolithic Age. They later merged with the Qiang people, who had come the long way from Qinghai and Gansu Provinces, becoming the ancestors of Tibetans. In about 237 BC, a tribe by the Yarlung Tsangpo River was unified by Nyatri Tsenpo, the first king of Tibet. It later grew into an aggressive power in the 7th century that unified all of Tibet into the Tubo Kingdom, marking the beginning of the recorded history of Tibet.


Tibet's history can be divided into the following periods:
From the 7th to the 10th century
In the Tang Dynasty: Close Relations between Tibet and Central China
The friendly relations between the Tibetan nationality and the Han nationality of the main areas of China can be traced to ancient times, as is proved by archaeological findings and historical documents in Tibetan and Chinese.
In the seventh century the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo unified the tribes on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and established the Tubo Dynasty. King Songtsen Gampo married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty in 641, after which the Tang emperor conferred on him the titles of "Imperial Son-in-Law Governor", "West Sea Prince", and "Treasured Prince."

In the 13th century
In the Yuan Dynasty Tibet Became an administrative Region of China
In the thirteenth century Temujin (Genghis Khan), who succeeded in subjugating other independent tribes and local forces, founded the Mongol Khanate.
In 1247 Sakya Pandita, the chief of the Sakya Buddhist sect in Tibet, and his nephew Phagpa, conferred with the Mongol Prince Godan, grandson of Genghis khan, at Liangzhou (in present-day Gansu province) on problems concerning Tibet giving its allegiance to the MongolKhanate. On his accession to the throne in 1260, Kublai Khan granted Phagpa the title of "Imperial Tutor" as well as a jade seal symbolizing the politico-religious power over Tibet, with which Phagpa was entrusted. This initiated the combination of temporal and spiritual authority in the Tibetan local regime. In 1271 Kublai Khan named his state the Yuan dynasty.
In 1279 he unified China's entire territory. It was then that Tibet became an administrative region under the direct jurisdiction of the central government of China.

From the 14th to the 17th century
The Ming Imperial Court's Administration of Tibet
In the Ming Dynasty the policy towards Tibet mainly continued that of the previous Yuan Dynasty.
The governorship for U-Tsang and a Marshal's Headquarters were created. The system of official posts in Tibet ranking from commanders, commissioners to wan hu, qian hu, and bai hu was improved. Officials in Tibet were appointed by the central government. In carrying out a pacificatory policy, the Ming Dynasty granted various new offices and titles of honor to officials and dignitaries in the Tibetan areas.
Thus the title of "Prince of Dharma" was granted to Khon Drakpa of the Sakya sect, "Prince of Great Treasure" to Karma Lama of the Kagyupa sect, "Prince of the Western Deities and Grand Imperial Tutor" and later "The Great Compassionate Prince of the Dharma" to Shakya Yeshe of the Gelugpa (Yellow-Hat) sect. Among many other titles of honor were those of "Initiation State Tutor", "Promotion Prince of Virtue", "Guardian Prince of the Doctrine", "Propagation Prince of the Doctrine".

From the 17th to the 20th century
The Qing Imperial Court Improving the Administration of Tibet
Under the succeeding Qing dynasty, the central government of China further strengthened its administration of Tibet.
In 1652 the fifth Dalai Lama paid his respects in Beijing to the emperor, who, in the following year, granted him the title of "Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith Beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra, the Dalai Lama" and a certificate on sheets of gold inscribed and a gold seal of authority.
In 1713 the 5th Panchen Lama was granted the title of "Panchen Erdeni" as well as gold. From that time on, the Qing central government officially recognized the political and religious status and powers of the Dalai and Panchen Lamas.

From 1912 to 1949
The Nationalist Government Safeguards China's Sovereignty over Tibet
In 1912, after the founding of the Republic of China, the central government termed itself a republic of five nationalities - Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, and Tibetan, with a unified territory and the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China stipulated.
The territories of the Republic of China include twenty-two provinces as well as Inner and Outer Mongolia, Tibet, and Qinghai.
In 1912, the title of the 13th Dalai Lama was restored and "the Loyally Submissive Vicegerent, Great, Good, Self-Existent Buddha of West Heaven" was decreed by the president of the Republic of China.

1951 ~
Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1951
On May 23, 1951, delegates with full powers of the Local Government of Tibet and delegates with full powers of the Central People's Government signed "The Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet".
The Fourteenth Dalai Lama and the Tenth Panchen Erdeni cabled the central authorities to express their support of the Agreement.
Tibet came to a complete end in 1959 when rebellion led by the Dalai Lama was pacified and the People's Government of the Tibet, Autonomous Region was set up.