Exhibition Talk
Changing images of China and Central Asia from Marco Polo to the Enlightenment
| Date | 3 November 2016 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12:00 – 1:30 pm |
| Venue | Multi-Function Room, LG4 |
| Speaker | Dr. Marco Caboara, Digital Scholarship and Archives Manager |
| Language | English |
| Registration | All are welcome |
Enquiries
- Tel:: 2358 6710
- Email: library@ust.hk
Description
The talk will describe a selection of the unique library’s Special Collection of printed hand-colored maps of China and Asia now exhibited on the KPS gallery on the library’s first floor. It will show how European maps from 1500 to 1750 represented China and “Tartary”, the part of Asia originally dominated by the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan, starting from Marco Polo’s trip in 1280 and reaching the era of scientific cartography of the 1700s. It will describe different styles of maps and their striking visual features (sea monsters, fantastic city views, comic book-like illustrations).
It will also address the following questions:
- Did Marco Polo really go to China?
- Why did the Portuguese come to China, and why were they the first Europeans to come by sea?
- Why most of the great European mapmakers were Dutch?
- Can Old Maps be used to justify modern borders?
A guided tour will follow the talk.