We shall begin this journey by stating that, of course. there never was any such thing as a Tibetan 15th. century. On the plateau, time was not counted anno domini, nor measured in centuries or millenniums. The calendar was articulated in sexagenary cycles (rab byung) starting in 1027, so that the period under consideration fell under the 7. and 8th. cycles (1387-1506). However, to talk about the 15ts century in relation to Tibet is more than a handy shortcut, a conventional means of immediately pointing to the timeframe we wish to consider. In fact, it is a means of placing the discourse about Tibet within the wider frame of global history. Positioned in the heart of the Asian continent, at crossroad between South Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia, was not Tibet pan of the 15. century world?

We shall begin this journey by stating that, of course. there never was any such thing as a Tibetan 15th. century. On the plateau, time was not counted anno domini, nor measured in centuries or millenniums. The calendar was articulated in sexagenary cycles (rab byung) starting in 1027, so that the period under consideration fell under the 7. and 8th. cycles (1387-1506). However, to talk about the 15ts century in relation to Tibet is more than a handy shortcut, a conventional means of immediately pointing to the timeframe we wish to consider. In fact, it is a means of placing the discourse about Tibet within the wider frame of global history. Positioned in the heart of the Asian continent, at crossroad between South Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia, was not Tibet pan of the 15. century world?