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  Chu Ssu-pen (1273-1337) was a Chinese map-maker during the period of the Yuan Dynasty. In the decade between 1311 and 1320 he compiled a large roll-map of China and its surrounding regions according to the information available to him at the time. Chu wrote in his preface that among the sources he consulted was the Yu Chi Ti , or Map of the Tracks of Yu , dated 1137. His choice was an important one because it established him in a more accurate tradition of Chinese map-making, based on a grid of squares to indicate distance. The scale adopted by this map was one side of each square equalling 100 li , approximately 33 miles. A major concern for Chu was that the information from which his own map was to be drawn was reliable. It is uncertain how far the coverage of his new map actually extended. The original manuscript has since been lost, although his preface has survived. What is clear is that Chu expressed personal reservations about representing the regions beyond the Empir...

  Chau Ju-kua was Inspector of Foreign Trade at the Chinese port of Ts'uan-chou. In about 1226 he wrote a book called Chu-fan-chih , which translates to 'Description of Barbarous Peoples' or 'Records of Foreign Nations'.  The contents of his book are neatly summarised in a contemporary catalogue entry:        " Chu-fan-chih , the Inspector of Foreign Trade, Chau Ju-kua, records (in this book) the several foreign countries and the merchandize which come from them".                              (Ch'en Chen-sun, 'Descriptive Catalogue' of family library, ca. 1234-1237) It is evident from this short review that Chau had two advantages for producing a useful text. Because of his official role at the port, he had access to reliable data on the type of goods imported. In addition he had the opportunity for face to face communication with foreign merchants and ship-captains to supplement the...

  Ibn Battuta was an Islamic pilgrim. His priority as a Muslim was Mecca, but in his extensive travels he sought out many other mosques and tombs of 'saints' as well. His religious motives were broadened to include the outer bounds of the Islamic world by Burhan al-Din the Lame. Battuta stayed with this imam in Alexandria [Egypt], on his first journey from his home in Tangier [Morocco]. "One day, when I had entered his room, he said to me: 'I see you are fond of travelling and wandering from land to land'. 'Yes', I replied, 'I am fond of it', although there had not as yet entered my mind any thought of penetrating to such distant lands as India and China. Then he said: 'You must certainly, if God will, visit my brother Farid al-Din in India, and my brother Zakariya al-Din in Sind, and my brother Burhan al-Din in China, and when you reach them convey to them a greeting from me'. I was amazed at his prediction, and the idea of going to these c...