Chinese Civilisation and Its Aegean Affinities

This book, written in Greek, critically examines the view that China developed a complex society and high culture without external influence. It is here illustrated that contact and interaction did take place, based on mobility, migration and exchange processes mainly along the Eurasian Steppe Highway. Not solely via the nomadic tribes but certainly through their agency as well, said interaction included the Mediterranean and Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. The Hellenistic civilization is shown to be a significant party in this cultural encounter, mainly through its local cultural hybrids of Greek-Bactrian and Greek-Indian polities The use of gold and silver as preferred luxury materials and the appearance of realistic life-size sculptures are only indicative examples with a rather pronounced Greek dimension; the above, together with architecture, landscape painting, various jewellery techniques, martial arts, and so much more, all owe a great deal to the Aegean heritage.