Images

A silk scroll painting by Shen Du depicting a giraffe given in tribute by King Saif Al-Din Hamzah Shah of Bengal to the Yongle Emperor (r. 1403-1424 CE) of China's Ming Dynasty. The tribute was one of the many collected by Admiral Zheng He...

A 19th century CE oil painting of a traditional Chinese junk ship, used for ocean-going trade voyages since medieval times. (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)

The Roman Agora, a modern-day replica of the ancient market place housing a museum highlighting local finds; Athens, Greece.

A map showing the route and destinations of the seven voyages of Zheng He between 1405 and 1433 CE, acting as an ambassador and explorer of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 CE).

A map indicating the territory controlled by the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 CE) in the late 16th century 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. (National Palace Museum, Taipei)

Icon from the Mégalo Metéoron Monastery in Greece, representing the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, with the condemned Arius in the bottom of the icon.

A portrait of Jiang Shunfu (1453-1504 CE), a civil servant of the first rank during the Ming Dynasty of China (1368-1644 CE). His rank is indicated by the two cranes rank badge on the front of his robes. (Nanjing Museum, China)

The Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, Egypt; dated to the Old Kingdom period c. 2613-2181 BCE.

A detail of the roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, part of the Temple of Heaven in the Forbidden City, Beijing. The temple and the Forbidden City were first built in the reign of Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1403-1424...