When Asia Was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors and Monks who created "The Riches of the East

Da Capo Press, 2007. First edition. Hardcover. Very Good/fine. In this well researched book, Gordon, an academic with Asia as his specialty, demonstrates how travellers and academics of Asia and the Middle East laid the ground work that opened up Asia to, firstly, European colonists and subsequently to the focus of Western interest that continues to this day. The book's 220 pages includes at least 10 pages of maps and 16 pages of black and white illustrations as well as extensive source notes and suggested further reading on the subject matter of each chapter. Very Good Hardback in a Fine Dust Jacket The Contents include - 1 - Monasteries & Monarchs: Xuanzang, 2 - Caliph and Caravan: Ibn Fadlan, 3 - Philosopher and Physician: Ibn Sina, 4 - Ingots and Artifacts: The Intan Shipwreck, 5 - Pepper and Partnerships: Abraham Bin Yiju, 6 - Nobles and Notables: Ibn Battuta, 7 - Treasure and Treaty: Ma Huan, 8 - Blood and Salt: Babur, 9 - Medicines and Misunderstandings: Tome Pires and 10 - The Asian World, 500-1500 CE. Weight: 0.6 kg Post free within Malaysia There is spotting on the text block and end papers. Otherwise the binding is tight, the text clear and there is mild tanning of the pages.