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Silk Trade.
#1
Ave, i'm new here.

I know that silk was a very important trade item in the roman empire. I was wondering, what was the extent of contact between roman and/or hellenistic culture, and that of china? I have heard that the greeks had colonies as far as Oc`Eo in vietnam, sooo was there some chinese contact? I also read that Marcus Aurelius sent an envoy to China sometime during his reign. What happened during that time?

as for that Romans vs Han question, IMO the Chinese would have several pyrrhic victories at first, but they would eventually overwhelm the romans. superior numbers. (romans would put up a good fight though, superior tactics.)
Alex Sisto. From New JERZ.
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#2
Quote:Ave, i'm new here.

Aye!

Welcome to the forum, but please add your real name to your signature. it's a forum rule.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#3
sry bout that...workin on it now
Alex Sisto. From New JERZ.
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#4
so, uhhh yea anybody know?
Alex Sisto. From New JERZ.
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#5
Old JASTOR article. Now public domain.
Probably our member Johna Lendering in his site www.livius.org can help on that

Kind regards
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#6
yea i looked on that site, and i found a few things, but nothing too in-depth. is there a link to that JASTOR article?

if anybody found anything intresting on Livius, let me no.
Alex Sisto. From New JERZ.
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#7
Some references to China mentioned in the context of trade with Rome and Greece on Bill Thayer's site:

copy and paste the entire link
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... orii*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... T/20*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... eece*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... um/1*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... mium*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... n/14*.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/R ... s/2A*.html
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
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#8
You could try looking at the University of Washington "Silk Road Seattle" project - http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/index.html - which has an enormous amount of information.

Translated sources from the Chinese end include
http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/te ... n_shu.html and http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/te ... eilue.html which both have chapters on Rome - "Da Qin".
cheers,
Duncan
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#9
Most of the potential contact with China between Rome was blocked by the Parthians who wanted to keep the trade for themselves in the silk road, but Roman and Han era Chinese report contact between the two, but it was extremely breif and rare. Supposedly a Chinese general named Ban Chao led an expedition west of China reaching the Black Sea and sent diplomats to Rome during the reign of Nerva. A few Chinese writings from that era also describe the Romans and their government, as well as physical descriptions of the people. It amazes me to think what if they had furthered contact between eachother. Something to think about.
Dennis Flynn
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