Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t1.5
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t1.5
- Language
- English
v2.c13.s3.t1.5
In ancient Greece and Rome, China was called Seres or Serica, ie, the country of silk. The ancient Farsi "China" came from Cina and it then passed on to Western Europe. After the Khitan founded the Liao dynasty in northern China, western countries began to call China after the Khitan. For example, China is called "Kitai" in Russian. The Western term "Cathay" also derives from Khitan. In 1516, the word "China" appeared in the diary of the Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa.