Research Essay: Portrayal of China in Western Media

Week 8: History continues Eight Centuries: A Timeline of Western Contact with China

COM304 Portrayal of China in Western Media

Week8: The Age of Sinophilia

Readings Exercise: Discussion Points for Tutorial

Reading 1: Wood (1996): “Why go at all?”

1. What was the primary driving factor that led Europeans to travel east along the Silk Road? 


2. Discuss how these European travellers moved between entrepot trading cities along the Silk Road. How did they ensure they had the finances to continue their travels over such long distances?

3. What is the Venetian “colleganza” system and how did the travellers benefit financially from such an arrangement? How did the “associates” benefit? What reasons can you give for the different amounts invested in these journeys by the (a) travellers and (b) Venetian “associates”? 


Reading 2: Wood (2009) The Jesuits in China

1. Wood provides an overview of several aspects of China that the Jesuits focused on when providing translations and accounts of their experiences:

Identify a specific example from each of the following categories: • Science and Technology • Food 
 • Law, Governance and Government Officials 
 • Language 


2. How do these examples, both individually and collectively, contribute to the “Sinophilia”

of early contact between China and the West? 


Students MUST complete the readings and consider these questions prior to attending Tutorial. These questions are not tests, but aimed at helping you to critically explore the course content. The exercises are not optional, and students who consistently fail to complete may be asked to leave Tutorial.