Images

This map illustrates Marco Polo's travels (1271 - 1295), which spanned vast regions of Asia, including the Middle East, Central Asia, and China, where he served at the court of Kublai Khan. Polo journeyed along the Silk Road, encountering...

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).

The Moabite Stone, an ancient tablet dating to around 850 BCE, written by Mesha, the king of Moab (modern Jordan). (Louvre Museum, Paris)

A detail of the Moabite Stone, an ancient tablet dating to around 850 BCE, written by Mesha, the king of Moab (modern Jordan). (Louvre Museum, Paris)

An examination hall in Suzhou where candidates sat for the civil service examinations which were conducted throughout the history of imperial China. Painted scroll by Xiu Yang, 18th century CE. (Liaoning Provincial Museum, Shenyang, China)

A detail of a 16th century CE painted scroll showing students taking the civil service examinations which were used to select government officials throughout the history of imperial China. (Beijing Palace Museum)

Cells used in the civil service examinations of imperial China. Students stayed three days in them taking the exam. South River School (Nanjiangxue), Nanjing, China.

A map showing the 1332-47 CE travels of Ibn Battuta (l. 1304-1368/69 CE) in Egypt. Battuta was a Moroccan explorer from Tangier whose expeditions took him further than any other known traveller of his time and resulted in the work which has...