Evidence suggests that the classical Western world knew of the existence of China as early as the 5th century BCE. Why did it take until the second century CE for Romans to make official contact with China? Did the Romans know the full extent of the power of the Chinese Empire?

by RussiaCykaBlyat

Iphikrates

Not to derail the thread, but could you explain what evidence there is that the existence of China was known to Mediterranean peoples that early? To my knowledge, the Greeks right down to the end of the 4th century BCE thought that beyond India lay the eastern edge of the world.