Description
Book SynopsisHyunhee Park's book documents the relationship between the Islamic and Chinese worlds before the Europeans arrived. Through close analysis, Park explores varied interactions between these two regions. This rich, engaging study offers glimpses into the worlds of Asian geographers and mapmakers, whose accumulated wisdom underpinned the celebrated voyages of European explorers.
Trade Review'In this valuable book, Professor Hyunhee Park confirms the significance of Sino-Islamic contacts and knowledge of each other's societies through the unique means of detailed studies of traditional as well as recently discovered Chinese and Islamic maps. A large number of maps and illustrations are a splendid bonus for the reader.' Morris Rossabi, Distinguished Professor of History, City University of New York
'A number of studies focus on the interactions between Western and Eastern Asia before European imperial and colonial enterprises (re-)discovered these regions. However, none of them provides the broad, in-depth view of the whole period that this book provides, from the venture of Islam to the emergence of European powers in the region. It is indispensable for any student or scholar who wants to understand the interdependencies of Asian history during this period.' Ralph Kauz, University of Bonn
'… it is a courageous account and may serve as an excellent introduction to this field of study.' Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
'Mapping the Chinese and Islamic Worlds: Cross-Cultural Exchange in Pre-Modern Asia is a book well worth reading and pondering. It offers valuable insights into the historical exchanges, through the aegis of geography, between the Chinese and Muslim worlds. It is a refreshing reminder of the forgotten fact that the study of geography is the theatre of history, and that history is understood within the limits of a certain geography.' Tarek Ladjal, Arabica
Table of Contents1. From imperial encounter to maritime trade: Chinese understanding of the Islamic world, 750–1260; 2. The representation of China and the world: Islamic knowledge about China, 750–1260; 3. Interpreting the Mongol world: Chinese understanding of the Islamic world, 1260–1368; 4. Beyond Marco Polo: Islamic knowledge about China, 1260–1368; 5. Legacy from half the globe before 1492: Chinese understanding of the Islamic world and Islamic knowledge about China, 1368–1500; Conclusion: lessons from pre-modern Sino-Islamic contact.
