ABSTRACT
A b r i e f period of direct contact between Far Eastern and Western Civilizations occurred during the century from approximately 1245 to 1345.1 This interaction was one of the results of the great Mongol conquests which began around 1200. Prior to this, Western Christendom was objectively ignorant of the customs and history of Central and East Asian nations, deriving its vague notions of distant peoples and places primarily from old fables and legends.2 Since the unity of the vast and newly established Mongol Empire encouraged trade and travel and made both relatively safe for those tributary to the Mongols and for those possessing safe conducts from them, Europe was able to meet Asia face to face.3
