China and Macau

In 1513 the Portuguese became the first Europeans to establish a maritime route to China. Their motives were a combination of a quest for trade and territory, and a desire to promote Christianity in the region. This anthology of translated extracts of first-hand accounts by contemporary travellers, merchants, missionaries and officials, includes writings by Joaõ de Barros, one of the most prominent chroniclers of the Portuguese overseas endeavours. The importance of the Macau peninsula as a poi