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Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

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DANIEL MILLER<br />

S.G. REYNOLDS<br />

The Tibetan Steppe 321<br />

Plate 8.9<br />

Yak pack train.<br />

Plate 8.10<br />

The Yak (Bos grunniens ).<br />

Historical <strong>and</strong> cultural aspects<br />

Pastoralists have probably been raising stock on <strong>the</strong> Tibetan Steppe for 4 000<br />

years (Barfield, 1989; Lattimore, 1940). As early as <strong>the</strong> Hsia dynasty (2205-1766<br />

BC), nomadic Qiang were making fine woven woollen material in <strong>the</strong> Kunlun<br />

Mountains. In <strong>the</strong> Shang dynasty (1766-1027 BC) nomads in eastern Tibet<br />

were renowned for <strong>the</strong>ir horses. The development <strong>of</strong> Tibetan pastoralism was

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