Zheng He was born to Muslim parents in Yunnan, a Chinese territory that was held by Mongols, in 1371. He was captured at the age of ten and was made a servant to the Chinese Army where he gradually impressed his masters, became an officer, and made a name for himself at the court of his commander, a prince named Chu Ti. In 1402 after he led a revolt against the emperor, Chu Ti took the throne and became known as the Yongle emperor. He’s fortunes rose with those of his commanders and he continued to advance his career as a well known courtier and trusted advisor. He sailed on seven sea expeditions on behalf on China’s Ming dynasty between 1405 and 1433. Prince Henry of Portugal was born in 1394 in Porto, Portugal and was the third surviving …show more content…
In 1405, Zheng He was asked by his emperor, Zhu Di, to be commander on the Treasure fleet to set sail for Calicut to purchase spices, Throughout his career on the Treasure fleets he traveled to southern Vietnam, Thailand, Melaka, and Java. A Treasure fleet is a fleet of trading ships, warships, and support vessels that would travel across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. These fleets were a big change because China’s isolationist policy had forbidden foreign trade and travel. The goal of these fleets was to demonstrate his glory to foreign countries and for people to recognize China as the one and only center of power and culture. His seven expeditions helped achieve this goal, so many of the states the he visited acknowledged China’s power by sending gifts and diplomats to the emperor’s court. Zheng He impacted exploration in China by sailing in Treasure fleets and by making other realize that China was to one and only center of
Ma He as a young man gained high in rank with the trust of Emperor Yongle. Thus, Emperor Yongle gave him power, wealth, loyalty, with the noble name of “Zheng He.” One day the emperor told him to obtain an enormous mission. He was told to lead several ships from Nanjing, China to Mombasa crossing all the seas that follow. He chose to share the idea of the voyages to Zheng He because he wanted him to explore new acreage and to establish
People argue that Zheng He didn't accomplish anything, but in Document B it states, ¨Voyages; 7; (1405-1433).¨ This tells us he was traveling for twenty-eight years out of his whole life, so at least he tried. Also not everything you try gets accomplished, it was just his luck he couldn't explore anything new. From information that I have gathered from Document A, it clarifies that in total, he traveled one hundred five thousand, three hundred miles in total! He was also very intelligent by going back to Nanjing each voyage for new crew, and repairments.. For his great intelligence, that gives one good reason for recognition
China was the most powerful maritime force for almost three decades during the 14th century. The world recognized the Chinese for their fine artisan skills, which included creating stunning porcelains and silks. They also had great marine navigation skills, vast knowledge in astronomy and advanced firepower technology. Before the Ming Dynasty, the Yi citizens of China involuntarily stopped working on the land, hence had to seek for alternatives in the sea for survival. A century before Columbus plus his allied Europeans started their entry into the Modern World, seven voyages of massive castoffs commanded by the eunuch Zheng He ventured through the China Seas to East Africa, throughout Korea and Japan. This occurred between 1405 and 1433, during the reign of Zhu Di. Using their skills, they conquered the forces around the Indian Ocean, making China the naval ruler. In the book When China Ruled the Seas, Louise Levathes explores the historic timeline of China’s dynamic transformation until her rise and dominance as a marine power. Discussed below is China’s overall
Zheng He may have journeyed far, but with little avail compared to competing captains. As the image in The Voyages of Zheng He: 1405-1433 depicts, his ships sailed to only populated areas with very little undiscovered territory (Document A). Unlike other famed explorers, who became popular off of their discovery of new land, Zheng He remained in an area within proximity of China and made no discoveries worth recognizing. In addition, the chart in When China Ruled the Sea shows Zheng He’s mileage compared to Columbus’s (Document B). He traveled nearly two days slower than his fellow explorer, and made far less progress.
The first reason the voyages of Zheng He do deserve to be celebrated is because of his over the top ships. From an illustration of what his treasure ship might of looked like “it shows it at least being 400 feet” (Doc C). In Zheng He’s comparison chart to other navigators it shows how he had “255 ships when everyone else only had less than 5 ships” (Doc B). Clearly, one can observe that Zheng He only wanted to be the best at everything he did. And with his huge sailing technology he had managed to finally state that about himself. Therefore, Zheng He’s many advanced vessels are worth being celebrated.
In 1403, Emperor Zhu Di, ordered the construction of the Treasure Fleet – a fleet of trading ships, warships and support vessels that would travel across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. Zheng He was given command over the armada and oversaw its several voyages. With every new destination, Zheng He bestowed gifts,
Although Zheng He was great, Magellan was a better captain overall. Magellan was a Spanish explorer who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. He set sail on a voyage that was supposed to go around the World, but Magellan was killed before he made it. Although he did not make it around the world, he had the skills to get all the way to the Philippines. Zheng He was a Chinese admiral who led seven voyages. He was also a great captain, but he did not almost make it around the world. Instead, he stayed in the same area and stopped in the same places multiple times.
In the early 15th century, an explorer named Zheng He started his first of many voyages to India. He was appointed by Emperor Yongle from the Ming Dynasty. He was castrated and taken away from his family at a young age. As he got older, he gained more power and authority. Zheng He's excellent leading skills lead the exploration of new cultures for China, although they did not voyage the Americas, but had an effect on exploration thereafter.
The chart under the map on Document A shows that after every stop, they sailed all the way back to Nanjing, China. According to Document A, the two longest explorations consisted of 19,000 miles roundtrip. I feel that these incredibly long voyages were a waste of time and money; they should have just continued to sail through to the next city. Zheng He sailed to a city, gathered whatever he wanted to, and then sailed back only to pass the city he left. This is incredibly ineffective, and illogical in my opinion because this wasted time and money. Referring back to my thesis, Zheng He was definitely not utilizing the maximum potential of his opportunity.
Zheng He was a very significant Chinese explorer in the 15th century that led seven extraordinary voyages around the world. Zheng He had many accomplishments and was not recognized for any of them. The Chinese at the time were a very advanced country that influenced Zheng He to be an organized and determined explorer. Zheng He was a versatile man. He discovered new land, saved China from bankruptcy, and wiped out the pirates.
One extremely prosperous time of the trade in China was in the Ming Dynasty under the reign of Yonglo. This was because during this period, the explorer, Zheng He, was promoting the trade with China and showing off the Chinese culture through goods like silk or ceramic art. He went on seven voyages to places like Southeast Asia, the Indian Coast, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa (document 2). One effect of his voyages was the making of a port city called Canton where the Portuguese, Dutch, and English merchants all traded with China. Unfortunately, after the death of Zheng He, the explorations ended due to it being too costly and then came the end of external trade after limiting contact with other places.
Emperor Yongle intended to awe the rulers of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean into sending tribute to China (Dreyer, p. 27). Zheng He and his fleets needed to establish Chinese presence and influences in those countries in order to enforce the tributary system. Although China had no interest in imperial expansion through oceanic exploration like the Europeans did, navy power was traditionally associated with the strength of a nation. Therefore, the gigantic treasure ships, the significant scale of Zheng He’s crew as well as the Chinese goods he brought to the foreign countries all served the political needs to display wealth and power of the Middle Kingdom.
Zheng He was a very important man who set out on seven remarkable voyages. His expedition was so remarkable based on its scale, or size. He set out on a journey that was nearly 35,000 miles in length. Every aspect of these extensive voyages was massive. Zheng He had a full naval fleet on each of the seven voyages. Along with his naval fleet, Zheng He complied a substantial food supply for his large ships, of 500 crew members per ship. The ship they used to sail are the largest known vessel on the ocean, in this time period. Also, he brought silks and spices to showcase China's power and wealth.
Both traded along the Indian Ocean using maritime trade. As the Ming traded along the Indian Ocean, they attained luxuries, for example silver, in exchange for Chinese exports such as cotton, silk and porcelain. The Ming Emperor, Zheng He, also sailed across the Indian Ocean. He is best known for the 7 sailing expeditions, which navigated across the Indian Ocean and the Southeast Asian archipelago. Zheng He's ships carried export goods; silks and porcelains, and he also brought back foreign luxuries such as spices and tropical woods. As for the Ottoman Empire, they also traded along the Indian Ocean; however, with items they had already attained. Armenians and Jews would often go to the port of Izmir, along the Ottoman Empire, and bring wool, beeswax, cotton and silk, causing great traffic. The Ottomans then traded these items in exchange for other luxurious items. Another similarity between the Ottoman and the Ming was why they traded along the Indian Ocean. Both traded along the Indian Ocean due to geography. The Ottomans were located closely to the Indian Ocean; they also had the right technology to trade along it, including ships and compasses. The Ming also traded along the Indian Ocean due to their geography. They were located nearest to the Indian Ocean, which then caused them to trade along it; also Zheng He had also laid out the groundwork for the Chinese to start trading
Asia was the center of trade, business and craft. Many countries tried to find a direct route to Asia, in order to increase trade. Whereas, China decided to uphold isolationism. Its population was one hundred million people in four million miles of square land. China did not want more land, nor more subjects to govern. In fact, China had more people than it can govern. Yongle Emperor sent Zheng He to purchase various spices, goods and conduct trade. Zheng He was a Muslim Chinese eunuch trusted by the