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Bhutan History

The history of Bhutan can be roughly divided in 5 periods.

The Stone Age

Megaliths, stone tools, weapons and shankar sharans suggest that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BC. There are no written documents from that period.

The Lhomon or Monyul Age

It is often suggested by historians that the state Lhomon or Monyul may have existed between 500 BC and 600 AD. Evidence of this can be found in ancient Bhutanese and Tibetan chronicles. During that time the people of Bhutan followed a kind of Shamanistic faith.

The introduction of Buddhism

Between the 8th and 17th Century AD, Bhutan was visited by renowned Buddhist masters from both Tibet and India. These Buddhist masters started to build monasteries, temples and fortresses. They also introduced new social beliefs and values among the inhabitants. Unfortunately, in 1827, most of the records were destroyed by a fire that ravaged the ancient capital Punakha so many things stay unclear.
At the beginning of the 17th century the Tibetan lama and military leader Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the existing patchwork of fiefdoms. Namgyal died in 1651 and Bhutan fell into civil war. In 1710 and in 1730 Bhutan was attacked by the Tibetans. Bhutan won the wars and in 1759 an armistice was signed.

The 18th and 19th century

In the 18th century, the Bhutanese occupied the kingdom of Cooch Behar. In 1772, Cooch Behar appealed to the East India Company who assisted them in ousting the Bhutanese, and later in attacking Bhutan itself in 1774. Although a peace treaty was signed fights with the British at the borders continued for the next hundred years.
During the 1870s, rivalry between the valleys of Paro and Trongsa again led to civil war in Bhutan. Gongser Ugyen Wangchuck, the governor of Tongsa, succeeded in uniting the country.

A new hereditary line

1907 was an important year for Bhutan as Gongser Ugyen Wangchuck was chosen as the hereditary king. The newborn monarchy was immediately recognised by the British government. In 1910 a treaty was signed with Great Britain. The British doubled their annual subsidy in return for an agreement to let Great Britain guide the foreign affairs of Bhutan.
After the independence of India in 1949, India took over the role of Great Britain.
In 1953, the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, started one of the most important constitutional reforms in Bhutanese history. He established the National Assembly with 150 members. In 1961, Bhutan opened its doors to the world as a member of the international community and launched its first Five Year Development Plan.
In 1974, the present king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk ascended the throne at the young age of 17. The new king gradually democratized the Bhutanese government. It was only in 1999 that the government lifted the ban on television and the internet.