Ancient Greek civilization is the cradle of Western civilization，Its cultural and technological progress has had a significant impact on world history。China is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world，Wenmai Tradition continues to this day。China and Greece have thousands of years of historical heritage and cultural customs that have continued generations，These cultural and customs play a positive role in the continuation of social heritage。More than 2000 years ago,The light of civilizations in ancient China and ancient Greece reflected on the Asia -Europe continent，But to chase today，Ancient Greece's cognition of ancient China，But has experienced a process from blurred knowledge to gradually understand。

 

 

　　Knowing the understanding of China was very vague

Ancient Greece and ancient China were far away due to each other，Unable to contact and communicate directly，Therefore, from the 6th century BC to the 3rd century BC，The exchange between China and Greece is exposed to the first contact with Chinese farming culture with the grassland nomadic culture，Then continue to pass to the west through the grassland nomadic culture，Its main material medium is China's silk。

 

As early as the Homer era in the 8th century BC，The ancient Greeks may have heard of India's legends and Orientals, including Chinese people。But because the ancient bet365 Play online games Greeks did not directly contact China，Its understanding and understanding of China mainly comes from businessmen from the East Coast of the Mediterranean、Soldiers and the Persian Empire born in the 6th century BC。Overall，The ancient Greek people's understanding of India was higher than China at that time，This is mainly due to the valley in the northwestern part of the Indian River in about 515 BC.。Shortly after.，Dasian appointed a Greek official Slakos to the east of Greece to perform an adventure and survey task。Slavos along the coastline of the Arabian Peninsula，Patrol of the Indian River，But he is like many ancient Greeks，I have been unable to know my position。From 326 BC to 324 BC，Alexander Emperor East Expedition，Give the ancient Greeks with the opportunity to understand Asia。ivory and spice trade in India and the Mediterranean coastal countries began during the Alexander Emperor Expeditionary period，After his death，Trade between India and Egypt and Greece can also continue。

 

　　The title of China is related to silk

Greece was included in its territory by the Roman Empire，1st century AD，China is known as "Sinae" and "Serica" ​​(Sinae)。"Qin Nai" is the title of China that trades in China through the sea road，These countries regard China as the end of the sea road。"Sailica" is the name of China through a country that trades in China through land.，These countries regard northern China as the end of the "Silk Road" on land。For example，Latin Geographic scientists in the Augustus era of bet365 Play online games the Roman Augustus era Ponponius Mira and ancient Romanian Scholars Plints all referred to ancient China as "Selika"。

 

Ancient Greece and the later Roman Empire's understanding of China is generally blurred，lack of geographical understanding，There is no in -depth cultural exchange，Its cognition of China basically stays at the level of material exchange，Even the contact in this material exchange is mainly based on the Persian and Indians as the intermediary，Not directly existing between Chinese and ancient Greeks。Exquisite items such as silk from the East just make the Mediterranean coastal countries convinced of the rich Oriental people on the earth，and treat China as the hometown of silk，Trees India as a spice place。

 

Ancient Greek historian Hirodode recorded the general position of China in his masterpiece "History"。In the fourth volume of "History"，Horodod quoted the Greek poet in the 7th century BC、A record in the long poem "Microbiol" of Traveler Arisiaz: "Living outside the 'Bei Wind' has a nation named Hebrew Lian，The place of its residence ‘extend to the sea’。"According to the recorded Greek scholar in the 4th century BC, Cathams was the earliest" seres，means "the country of silk") to call China，He mentioned in the book: "The Cyris (that is, the Chinese) and the North Indian people，According to legend, the body is tall，Da thirty bone ruler。Life is more than 200 years old。"" Although it is nonsense，But the name of "Cyris" for the first time，Obviously the Greeks use the Chinese silk they have seen to Bet365 lotto review refer to the ancient China。Rumors about Chinese silk and silk gradually approach the truth with the movement of time。to the middle of the 2nd century AD，Greek geographical scientist La Saenias pointed out in its "Greek"，Those silk threads used by the Cyris people to make clothes，Not extracted from the bark，Instead of being called "Saier", it is produced by insects。Since then，The Greeks are finally not regarded as "wool on the tree"。

 

Before 6th century AD，China is the only country in the world that raises family silkworms and manufacture silk。Starting from the Shang Dynasty，China's silk fabrics have been sold overseas，Silk was a luxury product that was difficult to find at that time。Chinese silk becomes an important equivalent exchanges between the Central Plains and the Western Regions，and pass through these nomadic peoples to Europe。Around the 5th century BC，Chinese silk has become a favorite clothing for Greek people。Ancient Roman literature describes Chinese silk as a gorgeous charm from the East，The ancient Romans also followed the name of the ancient Greeks who called China as "Siris"。But from the 6th century AD, Chinese silkworm species were smuggled to the Byzantine Empire，After there is related industries in Europe，"Siriris" is gradually disappearing。

 

　　The understanding of China has gradually expanded and deepened

to the 3rd century AD，The Mediterranean world centered on Greece has gradually become deeper and comprehensive。Greece at this time is completely within the Roman Empire，bet365 live casino games The center of the Eastern Roman Empire。5th century AD，The powerful Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the "Byzantine Empire") basically monopolized the silk trade along the Mediterranean coast。The Eastern Roman Empire needs to use goods from the East as a gift，Bribble constantly invading the border "barbarians" tribe，or to reach compromise and cooperation with relevant tribes。Considering that there are strong needs for silk and India's spices from China，The East Roman Empire has set up a public institution related to silk and spice trade，The agency enjoys privileges，Foreign policy serving the Eastern Roman Empire。So from the 5th century AD，Trade activity related to silk and spices is recovered by the imperial government from private traders，It has become a monopoly business of the Eastern Roman Empire Government。

 

This period，Greece -Mediterranean World has a clearer cognition of China's geographical location。Merchants and travelers of the Chastini era in the Eastern Roman Empire Cosmas Inydakusteus arrived in India on the sea，After visiting Sri Lanka，There is a more accurate understanding of the specific position of China than the previous businessmen。He knows that after traveling to the east from India to travel east，If you go north, you will reach the coast of China，Therefore, positioning Lilac is positioned between China and India，and observed that Sri Lanka is a cargo distribution center for trade between India and China。The Greek Siowla Feritus West Momatata, bet365 best casino games who settled in Egypt, was settled in his work "History"，It also described China for China。Unfortunately，Europe was busy dealing with the rapidly rising Arab Empire，Therefore, the content of the "Cyris" (Chinese) in this book has not attracted the attention of the Greeks and even the Europeans。

 

13th century，The large channel on the grassland of the Eurasian mainland is turned on，Europeans have undergone fundamental changes in the understanding of China。1253，Surgery William was sent by King Louis 9 of France to Mongolia，During Mongolia's residence，William obtained understanding and understanding China indirectly: the silk from the Chinese is still the best，The skills of Chinese people in diagnosis of pulse are admirable，They use a "ordinary coin" made of "cotton paper" in business transactions，and use the brush used like painters to write to write words。For the Europeans at the time，William's observation report content is brand new，Therefore, very popular，and the Greeks also increased their understanding of China through the spread of these reports。Later，Marco Polo came to China，I have lived in China for nearly 20 years，Back to Venice in 1295 and published "Marco Polo Tour"，Chinese culture、custom habits、Social and economic development, etc., began to enter the Volkswagen of Europe，China For Greece，No longer far and mysterious。

 

(Author Unit: Institute of International Issues Institute of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)