Serica, Region

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Serica, a great Region of the ancient Asia; betwixt China to the East, and the Mountain Imaus to the West: famous heretofore for Manufactures in Silk. Its Cities were Issedon, Serica, Ottorocorra, Piada, &c. The Inhabitants are known in Antiquity by the name of Seres. This Country at present lies contained in the Kingdoms of Niuche, Tangut, &c. in the Asiatick Tartary, to which some add Cathay. As some include it in the ancient Scythia Asiatica, others make them separate. The Occhardus (now Tartar) is a River of Serica.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Seres, the Inhabitants of a large Country in Asia, between Mount Imaus and China; some comprise it within the Bounds of the Ancient Scythia, others distinguish it therefrom. Its chief Cities of old were Issedon, Serica, Asmira, Damna, Ottorocora, Piada and Thagura. This Country is now contain'd in the farther part of the Great Tartarr, where are the Kingdoms of Tangut and Niuche, which is also called Tenduc and Charchir. Some also joyn Cathay to this Country, and take Issedon Serica to be the Modern Suchur, and Thagura to be Campion or Tangut. These People are Famous for their Manufactures of Silk. Strab. lib. 15. Cluver. lib. 5. Introd. Geogr. Sanson Geogr. Serita, a very large Country of Asia, having Scythia beyond, Imaus on the West, China on the South, the Eastern Ocean on the East, and the Scythian Ocean on the North. It formerly contained the Kingdom of Asmirea, the People called Damnae, Issedones, Ottorocorae, Piadae and Thaguri, so called from the names of their principal Towns. Now it makes part of the Eastern Great Tartary, and the Kingdoms of Tangut, Niuche, and Naiman. The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were called Seres, and fam'd for Manufactures of Silk. Hoffman.