This open access book provides an analysis of human actors and their capacity to explore and conceptualise their own agency by being curious, gathering knowledge, and shaping identities in their travel reflections on Asia. Thus, the actors open windows across time to present a profound overview of diverse descriptions and constructions of Asia. It is demonstrated that international and transnational history contributes to and benefits from analyses of national and local contexts that in turn enrich our understanding of transcultural encounters and experiences across time.

The book proposes an actor-centred contextual approach to travel writing to recount meaningful constructions of Asia's physical, political and spiritual landscapes. It offers comparative reflections on the patterns of encounter across Eurasia, where from the late medieval period an idea of civilisation was transculturally shared yet also constantly questioned and reframed. Tailored for academic and public discussions alike, this volume will be invaluable for both scholars of Global History and interested audiences to stimulate further discussions on the nature of global encounters in Asia.

Offers an interdisciplinary and methodologically unique volume that challenges dichotomous notions of East and West Uses a broad chronology to promote bold comparative reflections on travel writing in Asia across time and space Revisits the debate on the production of knowledge about Asia by stressing curiosity and identity in travel writing This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

Autorentext

Christian Mueller is Associate Professor in European and International History, University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Matteo Salonia is Assistant Professor in European and International History, University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Section 1: Re-forging Frontiers in Asia Local and Transcontinental Mobilities in the Global Middle Ages.- Travel, Order and Knowledge: Local officials in the Song Dynasty (960 1279) and Functions of Travelling in China.- Transcultural Perceptions of the 'East' in the 13th and 14th century towards a study of curiosity in the Global Middle Ages.- Massacres and Mobilities: Human Movement in the Mongol World Empire.- Section 2: Mapping 'New' Frontiers Curiosity and Knowledge.- Antonio Pigafetta's Asia.- Bowing to a new king The Ming-Qing transition in European sources.- The Silk Road as a Spiritual Landscape: The Otani Expeditions and Tibet.- Section 3: The Imperial 'Gaze' Hegemonic Perceptions of Knowledge and Power.- Britain's Brave Boys and the Haunted House of China. British 'Adventurers' and the Empire's 'Special Mission' in the Asia Pacific during the 1840s.- German Dreams of an Empire in the East. TheGerman Expeditions to East Asia and Ferdinand von Richthofen's encounters with China, 1850 1880.- At the Edge of Empire: The Japanese Army in Rehe (Jehol) in the early 1930s.- Section 4: Transnational Perspectives in a Digital Age Reflections on Global Mobilities in Asia.- A Very, Not So Modern Journey: Representing Europe Asia encounters through a contemporary Chinese lens.- Mobility and Identity: Northern Drifters and Digital Nomads.