Theatre of the World
Asia
In the late sixteenth century, Asia was the center of global commerce, home to some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful states. The Ming Dynasty ruled China, overseeing a vast economy fueled by trade in silk, porcelain, and silver. In India, the Mughal Empire expanded its influence, fostering advancements in architecture, governance, and the arts. Japan, under the Ashikaga shogunate and the turbulent Sengoku Period, experienced political and cultural shifts amid growing contact with European traders and Jesuit missionaries. In Southeast Asia, the spice islands—modern Indonesia and the Philippines—were the epicenter of the lucrative spice trade, drawing merchants from across the world. While Europeans sought access to these markets, Asian states remained dominant, shaping global trade and diplomacy on their own terms.
Exhibit Items:
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Bibliography:
STRUYS, Jan Janszoon. The voiages and travels of John Struys through Italy, Greece, Muscovy, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. London: Printed for A. Swalle, 1684.
The Rubenstein Library Catalog
ACOSTA, Cristóbal. Tractado de las drogas y medicinas de las Indias Orientales: con sus plantas debuxadas al bivo. Burgos: Printed by Martín de Victoria, 1578.
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