A comprehensive look at the process of civilizational exchanges and cultural dissemination in human history，Religion、War and trade are the three main ways。Italy and bet365 bonus code 2023 are geographically at the opposite ends of the Eurasian continent，Looking at each other from afar。Before modern times，The possibility of war between the two countries is extremely slim，Religion and trade have become the main areas of exchange between the two sides。Italians have some unique advantages，The national characteristics shaped by its specific historical process and cultural traditions，allowing them to play an active pioneer and main role in the history of exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations。

The beginning of exchanges between bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West，Most of the exchanges between ancient Rome and bet365 bonus code 2023 only have one-sided historical records，Lack of mutual certification。For example，According to the records of "Book of the Later Han" and "Book of Jin"，Roman envoy in 166 AD、Arrived in bet365 bonus code 2023 from 280 to 289。However，There is no historical data from Rome to confirm it。According to Roman historical records，The Age of Augustus，A delegation from the "Silk Country" once visited Rome，But there is no mention in Chinese historical materials。The event that can be confirmed is that he was ordered by Ban Chao in 97 AD，Gan Ying was originally going to be sent as envoy to the Roman Empire。He reached the Persian Gulf，But did not move on，Perhaps it was the dissuasion of the Parthians who controlled the traffic arteries at that time that led to their return。

Due to the distance in space，Certain myths and legends formed between bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West who have never met，People combine their longing for the golden age and their desire for utopian happiness，Planned on a distant nation。The Chinese call the Roman Empire "Great Qin"，"The people are all grown up and upright，There is something like bet365 bonus code 2023” and its hostages are straight，There is no second price in the market”。There are no bandits on the road to Daqin，They appointed thirty-six elders to discuss state affairs，Establish the wise as king。The Romans called bet365 bonus code 2023 the "Land of Silk"，Chinese people are very tall、Red hair、Blue eyes，They don’t know God，Longevity can reach hundreds of years。This kind of imagination is quite different from reality，But both sides are based on confidence in their own civilization，Having a certain broad mind and desire to explore the other side of the continent。

13th century，The rise of the Mongol Empire，The knowledge passed down by word of mouth and even intentionally misinterpreted by middlemen can be partially corrected，Re-understanding of the East has also become a catalytic factor in the development of social and economic changes in the West。In the history books of later generations，The most dazzling Italian of this period was none other than Marco Polo。Actually，He is just one of several Italians who serve as a mediator between bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West。Religion，The main figures who came to bet365 bonus code 2023 to preach were all from Italy。The guest of John Blanc set out for bet365 bonus code 2023 in 1245，Compile "History of Mongolia" after returning to Europe。John Montegovino in his capacity as papal envoy，Departed from Italy in 1290，Arrived in bet365 bonus code 2023 by sea，He never left after meeting Yuan Chengzong，Until his death at the age of eighty，The tombstone remains in Quanzhou to this day。

In trade，In 1255, Quanzhou Customs official Zhao Rushi compiled "Zhufan Chronicles"，It records some situations in Sicily。According to records in Western literature，Among Italian businessmen coming to bet365 bonus code 2023，Numbers available include several Genoese and Venetians，Some of them even married Chinese women，Settled in bet365 bonus code 2023，Here we live forever，These Italian tombstones were also unearthed in Yangzhou。14th century，A Florentine bank employee shared his and his colleagues’ work experience，Compiled into a book called "Buying and Trading Manual"，Introducing how to travel to businessmen traveling around the world，Including bet365 bonus code 2023, which he has never been to。Nevertheless，Marco Polo is still the most important Italian in the process of Sino-Western exchanges during this period。The travel notes he left stimulated Europe’s secular desires，Spurred on the great geographical discovery。

Marco Polo would not have thought of it，His actions indirectly caused Italy to gradually lose the prosperity it had enjoyed for centuries，Finance in Europe、The trade center is no longer exclusive to Italy，The trade channels for exchanges between bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West have also begun to be developed and monopolized by other European countries。However，Italians continue to master religious approaches。The reason why the Jesuits’ activities in bet365 bonus code 2023 were able to make breakthroughs，Thanks to the flexibility of a few Italians。For example，Fan Li'an arrived in Macau in September 1578，Then he realized，Portugal and Spain resort to force、The thinking of guns is not advisable，Religious personnel in these two countries have deep national interests、Swayed by racial prejudice and rigid thinking，Not easy to compromise，Not interested in studying Chinese language and culture。So，He requested from the superior monastery，Deploying two young monks to come to Macau to study the language，Still insisting that he must be Italian，They have no nationalistic bias due to their temperament and cultural background，More suitable for this important task。Matteo Ricci was sent to Macau for this reason，And practice has proved the correctness of Fan Li'an's choice。

Before Matteo Ricci，The reason why Italians occupy a dominant position in the exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations，Basically because they have been at the "center" of the Western world for a long time。There is no need to go into details about the glorious era of the ancient Roman Empire，They were in the first heyday of Western civilization，Facing the East，They have natural discourse dominance。The name "Da Qin" was originally created by the Central Asian peoples in the middle zone，Means wider than Qin (bet365 bonus code 2023)、More powerful。Exchange through intermediaries，bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West have impressions of each other more like myths and legends，But this is an imagination of equality based on each other’s strength and political stability，And the civilizations of both sides are sufficiently developed to support this kind of equality、Imaginative mode of communication。Not only that，Indirect material exchange also depends on the social and economic development of both parties。The ancient Romans may have misunderstood the appearance of the Chinese，But very familiar with Chinese silk。Half of the total annual coinage of the Roman Empire went to the Eastern trade market，The strong purchasing power of the Romans made them the largest consumer group of silk traveling to the west。

4th to 10th century，Greek、The impression of bet365 bonus code 2023 from Latin materials basically stays in the ancient Roman period。There was progress in exchanges between bet365 bonus code 2023 and the West in the 13th and 14th centuries，This is also another glorious period in Italian history。Mediterranean commerce is unprecedentedly prosperous，Venice, a city-state in Italy、Genoa、Florence and other countries have important economic foundations for promoting exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations。Take Venice, the birthplace of Marco Polo, as an example，10th century，Venice already has an ocean fleet，And gained control of the Adriatic Sea，Then almost completely monopolized Constantinople、Transportation trade west of the ports of Asia Minor。In the Age of the Crusades，Venice received generous rewards in the process of providing transportation and material support for military activities，At the same time, it also took the opportunity to expand the scope of business influence，Ushering in a period of rapid development。Actually，Remove strategy、Beyond the geographical advantage，Venice has no more advantages，But a developed woolen industry has been built、Silk weaving industry、Shipbuilding Industry、The weapons manufacturing industry equals a maritime power。The prosperity of these Apennine city-states，Making Italy face great challenges in establishing a unified nation-state，But it also provides opportunities for Italians to play a long-term role as the main force in exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations。The residents of these cities are more casual about feudal shackles，And I am more enthusiastic about the splendid Western classical civilization。They do not fight bloody battles because of their allegiance to a certain royal power，Prefer to be purely loyal to business interests or religious beliefs。

Marco Polo relied on powerful Venice，Practice trade channels for exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations。Another outstanding figure, Matteo Ricci, practiced the religious path，Behind it is Italy’s deep-rooted Christian tradition。But，Matteo Ricci’s actions not only have religious significance，Just as Marco Polo epitomized the motivation for commercial expansion in the context bet365 bonus code 2023 budding capitalism bet365 bonus code 2023 Mediterranean，The significance is not limited to material interests and economic development。

First，Italian history is complex and unified。On the one hand，Long time，The Apennine Peninsula is torn apart、There are many countries，City-state politics、A scuffle driven by economic interests，Attempt to establish supreme power through internal struggle，Seems incompatible with fire and water，No country can overwhelmingly defeat the other。On the other hand，They are related by blood、Culture、Family life、Politics、Economy、Unity in many aspects such as religious behavior，Closely connected to each other。Although it cannot be completely divided，But it cannot successfully establish a unified independent kingdom。Diversity is Italy’s strength，Laid the foundation for Italians to undertake the mission of exchanges between bet365 bonus code 2023 and Western civilizations。Their local identity and religious identity have long been higher than the later nation-state identity，They are not easily swayed by nationalist prejudice and identification with national interests，Therefore, we are more willing to communicate with distant Eastern civilizations。

Secondly，Roman historical tradition and humanism，To a certain extent, it helps Italians to become relatively open-minded towards another civilization、Tolerant attitude。Admittedly，This attitude is driven by a strong purpose，They favor flexibility、Pragmatic means，Calmly focus on actual problems and situations，Featuring realism。Matteo Ricci is a classic example of this feature。When he realized that his status as a "Western Monk" was not conducive to practical actions，Change the old rules immediately，"Integrate Confucianism and Yi Buddhism"。His upper-level route and cultural strategy，All based on in-depth understanding of bet365 bonus code 2023 language and culture。He has political vision，Know diplomatic compromise，The methods he used can even find their origins in the thought of Machiavelli and Guicciardini。They all think，Regardless of individual or country，Strriving for success is absolutely necessary、The only correct goal。

In summary，The long and profound historical accumulation has prompted Italians to form a relatively open view of civilization。And the slow process of national unification，Especially strong local identity and religious identity，Making Italians immune to the influence of nation-state consciousness for a long time，But proceed from practical interests，Use various strategies flexibly to achieve religious and business goals，Thus becoming the pioneer and main force in the two prosperous periods of exchanges between bet365 bonus code 2023 and Western civilizations in the 13th and 16th centuries。

(Author’s unit: Institute of World History, bet365 bonus code 2023 Academy of Social Sciences)