One Less Liar II: China and Rome Contact Each Other In the First Century

I know I already asked this before, but to get some new answers, I posted again.

In the year 97 CE (AD), the Chinese sent a man named Gan Ying west to make contact with the Roman Empire. He made it as far as south-western Iran, but then merchants who wanted to control the trade between China and Rome told Gan Ying that it was a two year trip across a huge sea to get to Rome. What if a merchant had told the truth, and contact had been made? The English language could be Chinese based (or gone), instead of German and Latin. Would Christianity have become a major religion (it was still small in CE 97, anything could happen)? What about Islam (gone)? Would the empires fight (probably not), merge, increase contact (China did like its secrets...), or remain indifferent to the other empire. Would the Americas have been discovered so early, because Columbus wouldn't need to go looking for a route to China? Any ideas?
 
I know I already asked this before, but to get some new answers, I posted again.

In the year 97 CE (AD), the Chinese sent a man named Gan Ying west to make contact with the Roman Empire. He made it as far as south-western Iran, but then merchants who wanted to control the trade between China and Rome told Gan Ying that it was a two year trip across a huge sea to get to Rome. What if a merchant had told the truth, and contact had been made? The English language could be Chinese based (or gone), instead of German and Latin. Would Christianity have become a major religion (it was still small in CE 97, anything could happen)? What about Islam (gone)? Would the empires fight (probably not), merge, increase contact (China did like its secrets...), or remain indifferent to the other empire. Would the Americas have been discovered so early, because Columbus wouldn't need to go looking for a route to China? Any ideas?
If English was Chinese based, it wouldn't be English. Assuming you mean whatever alt-language appears on the British Isles, it almost certainly wouldn't have anything to do with Chinese under almost any circumstances. The Empires wouldn't fight, why would they? They have no borders anywhere near each other, not to mention the Parthians keeping them far apart.

I don't really understand what you mean with the Columbus bit, so I'll refrain from commenting on that.
 
This is a possibility I have contemplated on a number of occasions. In my view, increased contact between Rome and China would not significantly influence things in the historical short term, as there is little real impetus for either war or becoming significantly closer (any Sino-Roman Empire is right out the window).

What we 'do' have, however, is the interesting possibility of greater cultural exchanges between the two. It would be intriguing to see what the results of this would be.
 
How about some form of Confusism [sp?] becoming attractive to the Roman empire and helping keep it afloat longer? [Or meaning attempts to recreate it are stronger and more successful]. Give a civil service largely outside of western religion would also have big butterflies.

On the nasty side one suggestion is that increased trade and the merchants that carry it out means more long distance movement and hence faster spread of disease. It has been suggested that this was a factor in the decline of both Roman and Han states.

Steve
 
There was plenty of trade with the East and China never really invested efforts to eliminate the middlemen (China had huge trade surpluses with the world well into the 18th century) in the routes to Europe. I have my doubts "official" contact in the First Century would change that much.
 
Interestingly, this could alter Chinese perceptions on 'not-China'. They always had the view of other nations being either barbarians or vassal states, contact with the Roman Empire at its height may change that perception, as they're clearly neither.
 
Interestingly, this could alter Chinese perceptions on 'not-China'. They always had the view of other nations being either barbarians or vassal states, contact with the Roman Empire at its height may change that perception, as they're clearly neither.

The same could go for Rome - outside states were either Here Be Forrinurs or Here Be People Pay Us Cash. And Parthia, but they were always meant to be People Pay Us Cash.
 
Interestingly, this could alter Chinese perceptions on 'not-China'. They always had the view of other nations being either barbarians or vassal states, contact with the Roman Empire at its height may change that perception, as they're clearly neither.

Actually, they thought Rome, as a state like so:

Their kings are not permanent. They select and appoint the most worthy man. If there are unexpected calamities in the kingdom, such as frequent extraordinary winds or rains, he is unceremoniously rejected and replaced. The one who has been dismissed quietly accepts his demotion, and is not angry.

The people of this country are all tall and honest. They resemble the people of the Middle Kingdom and that is why this kingdom is called Da Qin [literally, ‘Great China’]. This country produces plenty of gold [and] silver, [and of] rare and precious [things] they have luminous jade, 'bright moon pearls,' Haiji rhinoceroses, coral, yellow amber, opaque glass, whitish chalcedony, red cinnabar, green gemstones, gold-thread embroideries, woven gold-threaded net, delicate polychrome silks painted with gold, and asbestos cloth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daqin

The name Da Qin is also telling, since hte Qing founded the Chinese Empire.
 
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