A STUDY OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD IN ANCIENT TIMES是同作者《古代地中海和中國關(guān)系史研究》一書的英文版,是作者研究希臘、羅馬世界和中國關(guān)系的文獻資料的輯錄和成果集結(jié)。 第一部分輯錄和詮釋中國史籍所載古代地中海世界及其與中國中原王朝關(guān)系的資料。第二部分討論古代地中海世界與中國北方游牧諸族的關(guān)系。公元六世紀之前,中國中原王朝對地中海世界的了解非常模糊,傳說盛行。大部分傳說竟出諸中國人自己的想象。這表明當時中國人對地中海世界是多么向往!反過來,希臘、羅馬史家對中國中原王朝的了解同樣十分模糊。同一時期,地中海世界與中國北方游牧諸族之間關(guān)系卻比較密切。所謂草原之路至遲在公元前7世紀已經(jīng)形成,商人、使者的往來,尤其是部落的遷徙,不僅加深了彼此的了解,也架起了溝通東西文明的橋梁。游牧諸族沒有留下文獻,我們主要是通過西方史家的記錄來了解他們與地中海世界之間的關(guān)系,盡管這些記錄需要推敲之處不少,但實質(zhì)性交往無疑是存在的。中原王朝對地中海世界相互了解之模糊以及北方諸族與地中海世界之間關(guān)系之密切形成了鮮明的對照。早期地中海和中國的關(guān)系呈現(xiàn)在我們面前的便是這樣一幅情景。
PREFACE ...... 1 PART Ⅰ CHAPTER 1 Tiaozhi, Lixuan, Da Qin and the Geography in the Western Regions Concerned ...... 5 CHAPTER 2 Records Relevant to The Roman Empire in Ancient Chinese Historical Works ...... 42 CHAPTER 3 A Brief Study of the References on the Mulberry, the Silkworm and Silk Production in Da Qin in the “Xiyu zhuan” of Houhanshu (ch. 88) and the “Xirong zhuan” Chapter of Weilüe ...... 151 CHAPTER 4 “Da Qin” as Seen in Naxian biqiujing and Other Issues ...... 157 CHAPTER 5 Notes on “Issues Concerning to Liqian” ...... 166 PART Ⅱ CHAPTER 1 A History of the Relationships between the Xiongnu, Xianbei and the Western Regions ...... 179 CHAPTER 2 Doubts about the Theory of Xiongnu-Hun Identity ...... 234 CHAPTER 3 A History of the Relationships Between the Rouran and the Western Regions ...... 269 CHAPTER 4 Doubts about the Theory of Rouran-Avar Identity and the Hypothesis about Avar-Yueban Identity ...... 304 CHAPTER 5 A Letter to the Emperor of Byzantium from theTürk Khan ...... 335 BIBLIOGRAPHY [PART I] ...... 344 BIBLIOGRAPHY [PART II] ...... 370 INDEX ...... 382 POSTSCRIPT ...... 393