# Communities  
This subsection begins with the African presence in East Asia, the western regions of the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. The first contacts between Africa and China occurred before the Han dynasty ( 206 BCE - 220 CE). In addition, evidence confirms the presence of Africans in China during the Tang (618-907 CE) and Song ( $960-1279 \mathrm{CE}$ ) dynasties. Evidence also shows that voyages motivated by trade and diplomatic interests were made between the East African coast and southern China; in other words, there was movement of free Africans in Asia. However, forced movement did take place. The chapter by Don J. Wyatt shows that, despite the presence of Africans in China's historical record, we can only speak of trade in African captives as having begun in approximately the eighth century of the Common Era.