Tra mito e realtà: la Tartaria negli scritti dei secoli XVII-XVIII

After the fall of the Mongolian Empire and the end of the so-called “Pax mongolica” Tartary and the Tartars fell in Europe into complete oblivion for almost three centuries. The “rediscovery” of Tartary during the XVII and the XVIII centuries is due to the Jesuit missionaries in China who were able to reach the lands beyond the Great Wall and make detailed scientific observations. During this time the Jesuit sent to Europe a great deal of mèmoires, letters and accounts concerning the geography, history, culture etc. of Tartary.