Social and political turmoil in Tibet, and resulting protests around the world, have dominated the international news for the past month. What is it really about, though? Why are monks, students, and shop-keepers rioting in the streets of Lhasa and other cities throughout western China?

It's easy to get caught up in the emotional appeal of one side or the other. Many people feel a natural inclination to root for the underdog, so automatically support the Tibetans in their desire for self-determination. Others feel the pull of Chinese nationalism, or fear the precedent that would be established if international pressure helped to "break off" a piece of a sovereign nation.

However, hasty emotional reactions are rarely the basis for sound judgment. I believe it's important to understand the history behind present-day strife, before jumping to conclusions. I suddenly realized a few days ago that I didn't actually understand the background to Tibet's chaos. And I suspect I may not be the only person who could use an introduction to the historic interactions between Tibet and China.

I decided to look into the long history of interactions between these feuding neighbors. In the end, I'm still convinced that Tibet has historically been and independent nation, and deserves to be a free country today. Here is a summary of the history of Tibet's interactions with China, though, so you can make up your own mind!

Photo of Lhasa, Tibet by Marc van der Chij on Flickr.com.