Images

A silk scroll portrait of the Yongle Emperor (aka Chengzu or Yung Lo, r. 1403-1424 CE) who was the third ruler of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). (National Palace Museum, Taibei)

The Ming Dynasty Empire (1368-1644 CE) at the time of the Yongle Emperor (aka Chengzu r. 1403-1424 CE).

The Hongwu Emperor, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 CE) who reigned from 1368 to 1398 CE. 14th century CE painted silk hanging.

A bronze coin of Zhu Yuanzhang, the future Hongwu Emperor (r. 1368-1398 CE) who was the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE).

A modern statue of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan (l. 1215-1294 CE). Sukhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

A sculpture depicting the Venetian explorer Marco Polo who famously travelled to China between 1271 and 1295 CE. (Villa Borghese, Rome)

A map indicating the general route of Marco Polo's travels from Venice to China and back again between 1271 and 1295 CE.

Abd al-Rahman III Receiving the Ambassador by Dionisio Baixeras Verdaguer (1862–1943 CE). Oil on canvas, 1885 CE. University of Barcelona

Caliphal palace at Madinat al-Zahra, near Cordoba, Spain, built by Abd al-Rahman III (r. 912-961 CE).

Caliphal palace at Madinat al-Zahra, near Cordoba, Spain, built by Abd al-Rahman III (r. 912-961 CE).