What did Europeans call China?

Cathay
Cathay (/kæˈθeɪ/) is an alternative European historical name for China. During the early modern period, Europeans thought of Cathay as a completely separate and distinct culture from China. As knowledge of East Asia increased, Cathay came to be seen as the same polity as China.

Why was China called Cathay?

Cathay, name by which North China was known in medieval Europe. The word is derived from Khitay (or Khitan), the name of a seminomadic people who left southeastern Mongolia in the 10th century ce to conquer part of Manchuria and northern China, which they held for about 200 years.

Who gave the name Cathay for China?

Muslim writers in Central Asia and Persia referred to them as Khitai or Khitay, a name that passed on to medieval Europe as Cathay. Although the Khitan ruled only the northern half of China, Cathay was often used as a name for China in Europe, even after the fall of the Khitan state, which came in early 12th century.

Where is the city of Cathay?

Cathay City

How did Marco Polo describe Cathay?

It was Marco Polo’s account of his travels to a fabulous country called Cathay, and all of the wonders he had seen there. He described black stones that burned like wood (coal), saffron-robed Buddhist monks, and money made out of paper. Of course, Cathay was actually China, which at that time was under Mongol rule.

What was China called?

It is also thought that the ultimate source of the name China is the Chinese word “Qin” (Chinese: 秦), the name of the dynasty that unified China but also existed as a state for many centuries prior….Names of China.