The Jesuit Who Didn’t Laugh Much

Posted on by Jonathan Beckman

This may be an odd thing for a China historian to admit, but I feel uneasy about claiming Matteo Ricci as my ancestor. His name may be unfamiliar to most readers, but as soon as you enter the field of imperial Chinese history Matteo Ricci will be the second European you meet – after the […]

Peking In

Posted on by Jonathan Beckman

China never really fitted into the template of Western imperialism. It afforded neither the pomp and circumstance of India, the plantation wealth of the Caribbean, the natural resources of Africa nor the wide open spaces of North America and Australia. Instead of colonies it yielded concessions – for trade and the regulation of customs duties, […]

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