Matteo Ricci Presents a World Map to the Ming

1602

In Beijing the Jesuit polymath Matteo Ricci unveiled an updated world map, the Kunyu Wanguo Quantu, printed on six enormous panels. He placed China near the center to flatter his hosts, labeled the continents in Chinese characters, and quietly demonstrated that the Earth was round. Ming scholars were fascinated, disturbed, and not entirely convinced.