Zhangzhung

Zhangzhung was a state in Tibet and the west (East Asia) that lasted from c. 500 BCE to 644 CE, about 1,143 years. Its people spoke Tibeto-Burman languages (Tibetan, Burmese, Newar, Pyu, Tangut).

A kingdom of western Tibet around Mount Kailash, remembered in Bon religious tradition as its homeland. Songtsen Gampo's Tibetan Empire conquered it in the 640s.

See Zhangzhung on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 500 BCE to 644 CE

Duration

1,143 years

Type

State

Region

Tibet and the west, East Asia

Language family

Tibeto-Burman

Capital

Khyunglung

Became

• Tibetan Empire 618 to 842 CE

Events in East Asia during its time

• 221 BCE Qin unifies China
• 210 BCE First Emperor buried with the Terracotta Army
• 105 Cai Lun presents paper
• 184 Yellow Turban rebellion
• 372 Buddhism reaches Korea
• 609 Grand Canal completed

Neighbours in East Asia

• Tang dynasty 618 to 907 CE
• Western Han 202 BCE to 9 CE
• Eastern Han 25 to 220 CE
• Qin dynasty 221 to 206 BCE
• Chu c. 1030 to 223 BCE
• Silla 57 BCE to 668 CE
• Goguryeo 37 BCE to 668 CE
• Baekje 18 BCE to 660 CE
• Gojoseon c. 700 to 108 BCE
• Qin (Zhou state) c. 770 to 221 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East

Questions