How 3rd century Chinese saw the Romans

[Viggen]

It’s hard to forget just how connected the world is nowadays. In ancient times, most people would be blissfully unaware of the entire world outside their local community. The average Chinese, for instance, would have never known that elsewhere on the globe, a glorious people called the Romans ruled over a massive empire. But the Chinese scholars were well aware of the Romans. ..

via ZME Science

[caldrail]

Both empires were well aware of each other, although they were a bit hazy about exactly where.

The Chinese attempted once to gain Romes help in dealing with barbarian tribes - their emissary reached the Persian Gulf and asked if he could reach Rome by sea. The sailors apparently said yes, but one would have to go around Africa taking two months to more than a year if weather went against him. He was advised to take rations for three years. Needless to say, unaware the overland distance was more practicable, he gave up his quest.

It's believed that the Romans sent one successful diplomatic mission to China though nothing came of it, and one Roman ship reached Chinese shores - ever. There is no record it returned safely.

The Romans in particular found imported silk the must-have material for all sorts of uses and thus wanted to maintain strong trading links. Eventually as we know silk moth eggs were smuggled west and China's monopoly was lost.