[BrS96bVxXBLzf5B]

The embedded fun fact here is that by the 13th century China was already exporting small goods like children's toys to Europe! til my knowledge of trade doesn't go any deeper or further back than "Marco Polo traded some things some time ago".

[tokai]

Oh I got a wikipedia article for you :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Roman_relations

[YeGoblynQueenne]

There is even a documentary:

https://youtu.be/kUs8tWJ0EWM

[kjeetgill]

My eye opening introduction to this topic was:

Ancient Chinese Historian Describes The Roman Empire // 3rd century AD "Weilüe" // Primary Source

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XdPodNwSGU

It's amazing how a shallow knowledge of history can make these sorts of things seem so impossible for some reason. People definitely knew way more than I'd given them credit for.

[prox]

I think there was a lot more trading than we usually think. It was an industry to trade for some states, and at one point in Europe they wanted to start trading directly, independent of political going-ons in the middle east. Starting the voyages of discovery.

The Levant was immensely prosperous afaik.

There is also the statue of a Buddha found in Sweden! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helgö#Excavations_at_Helgo

[323454]

There is also what is thought to be a Buddha found at Oseberg which may have been produced in England.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseberg_Ship

[pasabagi]

They had deep enough trade links that some refugee sassanid princes ended up being absorbed into the chinese nobility after the muslim consquest of persia.

[Maursault]

> that by the 13th century China was already exporting small goods

Marco Polo lived from the mid-13th to early-14th centuries. Chinese merchants were trading with the West from at least the date of the founding of Rome, and likely earlier, 800-750BC. Greeks were traveling to China by 230BC, and the Han Dynasty officially opened trade with the West utilizing Silk Road routes by 130BC.

[dekhn]

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages