Silks, Spices and Empires: the "Discovery" of Asia

The Asian continent, symbolized by silks, spices and empires, is full of enchantment and has always inspired human imagination and yearning. Today this charm is even more intense because of its cultural and political importance. Easterners and Westerners have been exploring this continent for various purposes and in different ways, leaving behind precious written records. This book excerpts the travel texts of these "discoverers" of Asia, the descriptions of the East in ancient Greek and Roman classics, the deeds of Zhang Qian, Fa Xian, Xuanzang, and Qiu Chuji in their journey to the West, the novel experiences of Marco Polo and Western missionaries and traders in the East, and the Jedi journeys that shouldered the mission of the Western Empire since the 19th century. This book spans time and space and condenses the thousands of years of human history of exploring and "discovering" Asia. Owen Lattimore, a young man who was once full of romantic ideals of exploring Asia, became a "walking historian" who grew up traveling on the Chinese frontier. He is a scholar with legendary experiences and deep connections with China. Based on his years of fieldwork experience and rich documentation accumulation, he and his wife Eleanor sorted out the famous figures and travel notes in history who "discovered" Asia. Their academic wisdom and unique life experiences created this unique work.