This is the story of China’s enduring search for order through the mastery of time.

Matteo Ricci, a young Jesuit would be the first European to enter China at the end of the 16th century. Trained in geometry and algebra, he would soon discover that cosmology and the art of measuring time was at the very centre of Chinese civilization and imperial authority, the Emperor’s Mandate of Heaven.

Over a century, three Jesuits would fight for power in the Forbidden City. Through dramatic historical recreations and unparalleled access to the world’s time labs, The Empire of Time brings to life the story of how China’s enduring pursuit of perfect time brought East and West together.

Modern astronomers, science historians, and time scientists draw on fascinating parallels between past and present, from 16th century astronomical contests to modern time-keeping labs and the satellite-driven race for time-data superiority. An epic tale of science, imperial history and intrigue.

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