Armillary spheres and a celestial globe were cast by Chinese artisans to the specifications of the ________ court mathematician Ferdinand Verbiest in the 1680s.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ferdinand Verbiest was a Jesuit from Belgium who worked as a missionary in China. He was indeed associated with the Qing Dynasty court (Manchu) but his religious and professional identity was as a Jesuit. He made significant contributions to astronomy and mechanics in China.

Armillary Spheres and a Celestial Globe Were Cast by Chinese