When Greece meets China...

[Maion Maroneios]

Say guys, I was wondering for a long time how it would have been when the Indo-Greeks met with the Chinese. Did they, like be hostile with each other or traded peacefully? Did they think of each other as barbarians or strange?

I once read somewhere that the Chinese send an embassy to the Baktrian kingdom, when it had extended to western China and northern India, and they described the Greeks as weak in terms of military. Was it trully like this?

I would be very glad if I could be enlighted by anyone with at least some decent knowledge about this subject, as it is and has always been a most interesting thing for me.

Thank you all in advance!

[Elmetiacos]

http://www.upf.edu/materials/huma/ce...ms/zhangqi.htm

[Maion Maroneios]

I'm immensely grateful to you, Elmetiacos! This was trully great, I hope people can keep information coming in. I'm mostly interested in how the Greeks(Wusun?) saw the Chinese and vice-versa.

I saw somewhere on the site you posted that the Chinese saw the Greeks (Baktrians) as ''people poor in the use of arms and afraid of battle, but clever at commerce''. How would the Greeks describe the Chinese? Where they (Chinese) really that better at use of arms?

[Vorian]

I'm immensely grateful to you, Elmetiacos! This was trully great, I hope people can keep information coming in. I'm mostly interested in how the Greeks(Wusun?) saw the Chinese and vice-versa.

I saw somewhere on the site you posted that the Chinese saw the Greeks (Baktrians) as ''people poor in the use of arms and afraid of battle, but clever at commerce''. How would the Greeks describe the Chinese? Where they (Chinese) really that better at use of arms?

From my very limited knowledge of Chinese warfare, I am under the impression that the Chinese used a lot of horsemen, chariots,archers and swordsmen. Since they developed these forces cause they suited their geography, my guess is that they would be better in their own country.
The same goes for Greeks.


As for how Greeks would describe Chinese? Who knows.

Perhaps like: "Short people with weird characteristics, strange clothing and great great NUMBERS."



No offense to any Chinese here.

[Parallel Pain]

Don't forget "lots of silk" or "steal our money with silk"

[Hooahguy]

wheres Keravanos when you need him?

[satalexton]

From my very limited knowledge of Chinese warfare, I am under the impression that the Chinese used a lot of horsemen, chariots,archers and swordsmen. Since they developed these forces cause they suited their geography, my guess is that they would be better in their own country.
The same goes for Greeks.


As for how Greeks would describe Chinese? Who knows.

Perhaps like: "Short people with weird characteristics, strange clothing and great great NUMBERS."



No offense to any Chinese here.

Actually at the time of the Western Han dynasty, which largely is evolved upon the Qin model, consists of lots of crossbowmen, archers of both mounted and foot variants and the infantry line is formed up using infantry armed with the 'ge' (works kinda like a halberd). Nearly everybody is armed with a sword as a side arm when the inevitable melee brawl ensues xD. Chariots, at that time were no longer used as a weapon, but more rather a mobile command post of sorts of the commander to read maps and give out orders and etc.

During the expedition against the Xiongnu, the forces Huoqubin led consist of 20,000 mounted infantry, each assigned 2 horses. They were trained to be self sufficient which reduces the need for resupply. Armed with a bow, crossbow, a 'ge' and a straight, single bladed sword, they fight both mounted and dismounted and are a deadly efficient killing machine, as seen how Liling took on 30,000 Xiongnu horsemen with 5000 troops (ok he cheated, he used the supply wagons as cover and used the repeating crossbow).

[chenkai11]

I wish someday, some historians or scientists will make a simulation of battles on "what if western powers meets China". Especially to see Roman empire vs The Han or Tang dynasty, or Alexander the Great vs Qin Shi Huang or Cao Cao or Zhu Ge Liang. Two totally different warfare, strategy and arms.

That would be ...... I can't describe the feeling.

[satalexton]

If I recall properly, the reason Zhang Qian regard their military as weak was because:
1- The Yuezhi pwned them and now they're under their dominion.
2- The Chinese style of warfare and armaments are so different from that of the indo greeks.

correct me if I'm wrong =]