Tibetan Culture Essay

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Jacqueline Professor Anthropology 203 2 October 2011 The People of Tibet: Living on the Roof of the World Traditional Tibetan people are a unique group in that their religious beliefs are deeply rooted in all elements of their culture. Located on the highest plateau on Earth, the Tibetan Plateau, the average altitude is 14,000 feet and also includes the highest point on Earth, Mt. Everest, in the Himalayas which border Tibet to the south. The extreme location contributed to their virtual isolation from most outside influences, and according to Davis, Harrison and Howell, “allowed them to maintain a nearly medieval way of life into the mid-20th century”. (116). An ancient trade route through the capital of Lhasa allowed contact with travelers, monks and tradesmen from neighboring India and China and were an early influence on culture, however Tibetans developed their own unique and distinguishable identity. Language, history, customs and symbols are important to their culture and its devout Buddhist religion is the underlying current which dictates these elements. The language spoken in Tibet is referred to as “Tibeto-Burman” and has many regional dialects that Buddhist scholar Kapstein states are resulting from the isolation of various populations within Tibet. (21). Tibetans work predominantly in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. Barley is the main crop and livestock include yaks, sheep, goats and horses. Consequently their cuisine includes tsampa, a dough made from barley flour, which is a staple, and meat dishes include yak, sheep, and goat. Dairy is also part of their diets and includes butter, cheese and yogurt made from yak milk. Butter tea is the popular drink made from

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