Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Ancient Mesopotamia, Near East and Greater Iran
Forum Discription: Babylon, Egypt, Persia and other civilizations of the Near East from ancient times to 600s AD
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5876 Printed Date: 25-Apr-2024 at 14:50 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Parthian and Roman relations with Han ChinaPosted By: Rome
Subject: Parthian and Roman relations with Han China
Date Posted: 01-Oct-2005 at 22:46
"The largest of these embassies to foreign states numbered several hundred persons, while even the smaller parties included over 100 members... In the course of one year anywhere from five to six to over ten parties would be sent out."
"When the Han envoy first visited the kingdom of Anxi (Parthia), the king of Anxi dispatched a party of 20,000 horsemen to meet them on the eastern border of the kingdom... When the Han envoys set out again to return to China, the king of Anxi dispatched envoys of his own to accompany them... The emperor was delighted at this."
Its territory is covers several thousand li [a li is around half a kilometre], it has over 400 walled cities. Several tens of small states are subject to it. The outer walls of the cities are made of stones. They have established posting stations... There are pines and cypresses.
Replies: Posted By: Maju
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 01:00
That's most interesting.
I've read in some places that Romans had direct commercial relations
with India and even that many Roman Pagans (or Greek Ethnikoi maybe)
found refuge ther when the Christian persecutions. Do you know
something about Roman relations with India?
-------------
NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Posted By: Zagros
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 06:34
The Chinese had garrisons that were one days march from Ctesiphon? That would mean about 15-25 miles from Baghdad.
-------------
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 11:55
Yeah I would be glad to tell you about Indian and Roman relations
Posted By: Zagros
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 12:37
I know there were Chinese outposts in the Parthian empire, but I have never heard of garrisons slap bang in the middle and only one day's march fromt he nerve centre. What's your source?
-------------
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 12:43
My soure is one of my books intitled " Ancient Rome: Politics and Military".
-------------
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 13:14
The Chinese and Parthians were realy strong bonded allies, and the Chinese were just there to guard the silk road.
-------------
Posted By: Zagros
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 13:55
OK. Thank you, do you know off hand which sources the book used?
-------------
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 02-Oct-2005 at 14:07
No, Im very sorry, I dont know were the book is right know.
-------------
Posted By: Praetorian
Date Posted: 07-Oct-2005 at 23:51
Were Chinese and The Romans allies?
------------- “Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris”
“--If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.”
"game over!! man game over!!"
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 14-Oct-2005 at 00:09
Yes, Rome and China were in the trading bussiness, and when they went to see each other they were doing it for allied reasons.
-------------
Posted By: Scytho-Sarmatian
Date Posted: 14-Oct-2005 at 04:05
Judging from some of the posts here, it would seem that the Chinese
were actually closer allies of the Parthians. The relationship
between them seemed to come close to a military alliance. By
comparison, the relationship between the Chinese and the Romans was
apparently strictly commercial.
The situation in the ancient world looks almost the same as the
present-day situation where there are close ties between China and Iran
that include military cooperation. On the other hand, while China
maintains strong trading ties with western nations, military relations
are more strained and problematic. Parallel lives?
Posted By: Cywr
Date Posted: 14-Oct-2005 at 09:04
Yes, Rome and China were in the trading bussiness, and when they went
to see each other they were doing it for allied reasons.
There was a net flow of gold from the Roman Empire to the east, though i think the larger share of it went towards India.
------------- Arrrgh!!"
Posted By: Zagros
Date Posted: 14-Oct-2005 at 10:23
Parthia and Rome traded with each other extensively when they weren't at war.
-------------
Posted By: Rome
Date Posted: 14-Oct-2005 at 22:12
Parthia played the middle men between Rome's and China's trade, how did Parthia trade with Rome?
-------------
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 21-Oct-2005 at 07:17
I've another question regarding the article that appeared last week on the Han Dynasty Roman ruins in Ganzu Province, in China. I am living in west China at the moment and would like to know more about the site (how I could see it) and whether any archaeologists are working on it at present (since I have an archaeology degree). Any idea how I could contact anyone working on it? And I can't find the website for that article...is it now removed from your site (I'd like to send it to a friend)? How could I get in touch with the guy who wrote it?
-------------
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 21-Oct-2005 at 07:25
And if there's any info on where in Kazakhastan the supposed Roman site was (with soldiers practising in "fish scale formation") which the Chinese delegation found during the same period I'd also be interested (having just been there overland and since I may go there again a bit later).