--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was possible, as far as they knew…" description: "\"“It was possible, as far as they knew, that the western shore, which in fifty years’ time would be christened New Jersey, was in fact the backdoor of C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/russell-shorto-32329_time_it-was-possible-as-far-as-they-knew-that_1835230.png" --- # It was possible, as far as they knew, that the western… ![“It was possible, as far as they knew, that the western shore, which in fifty years’ time would be christened New Jersey, was in fact the backdoor of China, that India, with its steamy profusion of gods and curries, lay just beyond those bluffs.” quote by Russell Shorto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/russell-shorto-32329_time_it-was-possible-as-far-as-they-knew-that_1835230.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/russell-shorto-32329_time_it-was-possible-as-far-as-they-knew-that_1835230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/russell-shorto-32329_time_it-was-possible-as-far-as-they-knew-that_1835230.png) > ““It was possible, as far as they knew, that the western shore, which in fifty years’ time would be christened New Jersey, was in fact the backdoor of China, that India, with its steamy profusion of gods and curries, lay just beyond those bluffs.”” [Russell Shorto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-shorto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage suggests that early settlers viewed unknown lands as extensions of familiar cultures, misidentifying geography based on limited knowledge. **In simple terms:** Early explorers misread new lands using familiar ideas. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about unfamiliar places. Themes exploration misinterpretation colonialism Mood curious reflective Type historical analytical When to use this quote - travel planning - education - cultural exchange - historical research Key Concepts Geography cultural projection historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do modern maps change our perception of place? - What biases affect our view of foreign cultures? A Different Perspective Assumptions can be corrected with better information. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [My mom used to take me down to the Jersey Shore when I was 7, 8, 9 years old. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We also know that China and India, as their economies ramp up, are using more and more energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-norton/we-also-know-that-china-and-india-as-their-economies-ramp-up-are/) [Gale Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-norton/) > [The idea that China and India will just abandon climate action is not true, because they're doing it for more reasons than we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/the-idea-that-china-and-india-will-just-abandon-climate-action-is-not/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [The thing that makes me most optimistic is China and India - both of them doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/the-thing-that-makes-me-most-optimistic-is-china-and-india-both-of-2/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [The thing that makes me most optimistic is China and India - both of them doing well. 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Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. 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