TThis globe, made in 1623, is the earliest Chinese globe known. As well as showing China in relation to the rest of the known world for probably the first time, the writing also explains how to make a globe.

Two Europeans made the globe in Beijing. Yang Manuo (Manuel Dias) and Long Huamin (Nicolo Longobardi) were the names of two Jesuit missionaries committed to taking Christianity to all corners of the world. The fact that they were prepared to share the scientific knowledge they had acquired in Europe with their Chinese hosts generally meant they were welcomed.

You may like to compare this globe with the Chinese map of 1644, which shows a more traditional Chinese style from this period.