The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China and the Situation Thereof, Volume 1 (of 2)

"The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China and the Situation Thereof" by Juan González de Mendoza is an old story that tells about China in the 1500s, acting as one of the first deep looks at the country for English readers. The book talks about Chinese society, culture, and where it is, also explaining how travelers found lots of cool stuff in China, such as how advanced they were compared to Europe. This book sets the scene by explaining why Mendoza’s story matters, it also gives a peek at the editor is trying to do by putting together the book and sharing older stories about China that had already made their way to Europe, describing interesting customs, popular things like tea and porcelain, and what life was like for the Chinese people, highlighting their traditions and organized way of life.