History of the Great Chinese Empire (Historia de las cosas mas notables, ritos y costumbres, del gran Reyno dela China, sabidas assi por los libros delos mesmos Chinas, como por relación de Religiosos y otras personas que an estado en el dicho Reyno) [Spanish] Year: 1585 Call Number: RBK1500 This book was written by Juan González de Mendoza, a Spanish Augustinian missionary, in 1583. It is the first work to systematically, objectively, and comprehensively describe China’s natural environment, history, culture, customs, etiquette, religious beliefs, and political system from a European perspective. It completely changed the early impression of China constructed by Europeans based on the descriptions of Arab merchants and Marco Polo’s travels. Due to China’s prosperity and strength, the Spanish and the West were discouraged or curbed from conquering China to a certain extent and instead adjusted to establishing diplomatic relations and commercial trade partners with it. After the book was published in 1585, it was translated into many languages, including Latin, Italian, English, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese with forty-six editions. 76 14
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