The Roman Empire According to the Ancient Chinese Sources

Hoppál, Krisztina (2011) The Roman Empire According to the Ancient Chinese Sources. Acta Antiqua, 51 (3-4). pp. 263-306. ISSN 0044-5975

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Abstract

Through a careful examination of the accounts of Daqin (大秦) — presumably the Roman Empire — and Fulin (拂菻) — Byzantinum —, we can depict a picture of how the Chinese imagined another ancient empire far away in the West. The Chinese annals not only give information on and the interpretation of the name of that mysterious country but also add details about its geography, administration, economy — including agriculture, domesticated animals and products -, trade and the envoys sent by Daqin (大秦) people. Such a description could be remarkable on its own but the accounts also emphasise the similarities between the two great empires that might have originated in their same cultural level.

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