Explore a comprehensive view of early China and neighboring lands, with detailed geography, history, and culture. This edition brings together maps, voyages, and portraits of the nations that shaped the Empire.
The work surveys the vast Chinese realm, its provinces, and border regions, and offers a clear account of daily life, government, religion, and trade. It compiles observations from missionaries and explorers to illuminate a world often only known by name.
- A broad overview of the empire from geography to chronology, covering rulers, places, and notable events.
- In-depth descriptions of provinces, peoples, harbors, rivers, and key cities, with practical detail for readers seeking context.
- Accounts of missions, cultural practices, and material culture drawn from historical sources and travel narratives.
- Maps and supplementary notes that aid understanding of how early readers viewed Asia beyond China’s gates.
Ideal for readers who want a foundation in the history, geography, and culture of the region as viewed in early modern scholarship.