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Document Details : Title: The Role of the Arsacids in China's Perception of Rome Author(s): GHAZANFARI, Kolsoum , BABADI, Amin Journal: Iranica Antiqua Volume: 60 Date: 2025 Pages: 141-168 DOI: 10.2143/IA.60.0.3295695 Abstract : Between 200 BCE and 200 CE, the ancient world underwent significant developments, including expansion of the Han, Kushan, Arsacid, and Roman empires. These empires’ political and economic interests often led to competition and conflict. The Arsacids, who held a strategic position as the gateway between East and West, worked to maintain their advantage. A review of Chinese sources reveals that the Arsacids attempted to prevent direct contact between China and Rome for over 300 years. They distorted the history and geography of the Western world in the conception of the Chinese to represent themselves as the only superpower in the west. This study examines China’s perception of the Roman world and the role of the Arsacids in shaping it. The research findings suggest that the Arsacids had intentional and methodical strategies to uphold their position as the mediator of East-West trade by projecting a specific image of the Western world. |
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