Da Qin

Daqin (in Chinese 大 秦) is the old Chinese name for the Roman Empire. Literally it means " Great Qin ", where Qin is the name of the first Chinese empire in history, the Qin dynasty.

After the opening of the silk route in the second century BC. C., the Chinese liked to think that the Roman Empire was a civilization derived from the Chinese Empire. The Romans occupied an end of the commercial route while the Chinese were in the other, hence the name " specular ".

China never directly achieved the Roman Empire in ancient times, although General Ban Chao directed an expedition of 70,000 men in the year 97 that reached the Caspian Sea. The Ambassador of Ban Chao, Gan Ying, arrived even closer, reaching the coast of the Black Sea. Gan Ying left a detailed description of the Roman Empire, but it is considered that it was based on second -hand information.

The name of " da qin " For Rome he was used in Chinese maps until the end of the century XVI .