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尽管欧洲与东亚的商业往来可以上溯至前基督教时代,但在较近世以前,欧洲与东亚间关系的最突出的一个特点是几乎完全缺乏文化交流。文化不一定总是步商业往来的后尘进行传播,尤其当商业往来经各式各样的居间人进行之时,更是这样。对此,我们现在所知的关于罗马帝国和远东各国的情况便是确凿的证明。以丝绸为例,罗马帝国奥古斯都统治时期,
Although commerce between Europe and East Asia can be traced back to the pre-Christian era, one of the most striking features of Europe-East Asia relations almost completely lacked in cultural exchange until recently. Culture does not always follow the footsteps of business contacts, especially when business deals with a wide range of intermediaries. In this regard, the information we now know about the Roman Empire and the Far East countries is a conclusive proof. Take silk as an example. During the reign of Augustus of the Roman Empire,