The Other Empire in the West
Abstract
This essay explores Han China’s perception of the Roman Empire. Using texts by modern scholars, it examines how the Han received information about Rome, the details–factual and inaccurate–they believed, and the interpretations they formed based on those details. This topic underscores the complexity of information transmission across ancient Eurasia and highlights how the dominant empire of East Asia acknowledged the existence of a powerful counterpart in the West.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Eurasian Exchange Networks
Chinese history and philosophy
Classical Antiquity Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Constellations
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 10–10
- Publication date
- 16 January 2026