Laurence fairchild
College board themes

#2 

Development and Interactions of Cultures

        Religion, Belief Systems, Science & Technology,

        Philosophy, Art & Architecture

#5

Develop & Transformation of Social Structure

        Gender Roles, Family & Kinship, racial & Ethnic Construction

        Social – Economic Classes

I have chosen these college board themes because of Zheng He's travels and his influence. Number 2 was chosen because he traveled to show the greatness and the power of the Ming Dynasty but also influenced trade. Number 5 was chosen because Zheng He started as a servant, and slowly worked his way up to be the Commander in Chief of the Ming Navy.

Zheng He

Eighty seven years before Christopher Columbus sailed mistakenly for the new world in his 85ft Santa Maria, Zheng He undertook his first of seven epic voyages in his 408ft flag ship along with 317 other ships. He traveled over 50,000kms and visited thirty countries.  He voyages lasted 28 years.

A picture of Zheng He, holding a scroll and looking on to his fleet.

Comparison 

Zheng He was a Hui-Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet Admiral, who commanded voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. He traveled with over 60 other ships, some of which were over 400 feet long, known as treasure ships. Zheng He did not travel looking to conquer and kill but instead to show the might and wealth of the Ming Empire. Zheng He's fleet always knew where it was going, unlike the slightly later explorer, Christopher Columbus.

Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in what is today northwestern Italy. Under the auspices (a divine or prophetic token) of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he was instructed to find a new route to Asia. On this voyage he took three boats, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria, the largest of which was only 85 feet long. This is completely different from Zheng He and his 63 ships.

The biggest difference between Zheng He and Christopher Columbus is their motive for travel.  Zheng He wanted to show China's might to other countries, Columbus wanted to find new routes in order to trade with Asia.  Zheng He followed well charted maps while Christopher Columbus got lost and discovered the New World!

Zheng He's history

- Zheng He was originally know as Ma He (Ma being a Chinese corruption of Mohamed) and was born in 1371 just outside the Chinese border.
 
- He was a Hui which means descended from Arab immigrants to the area who had come during the Tang and Song dynasties.
 
- Both Zheng He's father and grandfather were Hajji meaning they had undertaken the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia called the Hajj.  This exploratory heritage may have led Zheng He on his path.
 
- In 1368 the Ming Dynasty conquered his province and he was taken to serve as a court eunuch (one who has been castrated). Castration was often performed on the young men in conquered area and they then served as slaves and were completely loyal the Imperial Chinese Capital. This process means that he could not have children, so he would not have to worry about family. 
 
- However Zhang He distinguished himself when he helped Zhu Yanzhang defeat the Yuan Dynasty and was given a post in government and later a command in the Chinese Imperial Navy.
 
- From the modest roots of a slave in the Imperial court he would later wield tremendous influence.
 
- The Chinese had been a seafaring nation for over three hundred years and trade especially in spices was well established. The need for spices and raw materials was increasing and Zheng He was placed in charge.

- He was placed in charge of 62 ships and 27,800 men.

- He was to be the commander in chief of the voyages to the Western Oceans.

Another picture of Zheng He dressed in traditional Chinese attire.

Zheng He's massive fleet, holding nearly 28,000 people.

Haikudeck

http://www.haikudeck.com/p/8JCz4c4Zyc

Zheng He's voyages

- Zheng He was a diplomat and his main purpose was extending the influence of China and showing them his nation's might, wealth and influence.


- Zheng He bought envoys from thirty different states back with him to  the Imperial Palace where they paid their respects.

- In his travels to India, Arabia and Africa he brought and dispensed many treasures. 

- The Chinese fleet brought silks, gold, silver and porcelain as offerings to the states and countries they visited. 

- In return for their offerings Zheng He was given animals like ostriches, zebras, camels, giraffes and ivory to take back with him to the Imperial Capital.

- Treasure ships were massive and could hold hundreds of people. Zheng He traveled on one of these ships and it was over 400 feet long and over 160 feet wide.

- Though the expeditions were on a vast scale they were along well established and charted routes unlike the western explorers who would follow like Columbus, Gama and Magellan.

- Zheng He’s main purpose was to show the might of the Chinese Empire rather than to conquer lands like the European countries would later.

- The voyages increased Chinese power and influence in area and led to widespread Chinese emigration to the countries visited.

- However they did not establish trading empires like the European voyages would.

- Though primarily diplomatic Zheng He took many soldiers with him and they would not shrink from violence if considered necessary.  They ruthlessly dealt with pirates who had long plagued the South China seas and had one land war in Ceylon to subdue an uprising.

Over all Zheng He’s primary focus during his voyages was to showed off the wealth and power of the Ming dynasty and to influenced and promote maritime trade through ports in Asia

The End of the Voyages

In   1424 the Yongle Emperor who had sponsored the first six voyages (there would be one more under the rule of his grandson)  died and his son came to Power.  The New Emperor was a stricter follower of Confucianism than his father and more conservative fiscally. 


Confucianism respected farming and craftsmanship far above trade which had been the main reason behind the voyages being primarily to show the might of China rather than to increase trade. After all trading partners came to China to buy their silks and treasures, China had no need to sail into the Indian Ocean to look for customers.  This had made the voyages extremely expensive and the imperial coffers were in poor shape.  The voyages were not seen to be following Confucian principles.   Money was needed to secure the western borders and therefore the voyages were eventually stopped by Ming China and the ships were either burnt or left to rot according to different legends.

This a painting of one of the giraffes Zheng He brought back from his voyages. It showed the power of his dynasty.

Another painting of Zheng He's fleet. Showing his power and determination.

A map showing Zheng He's Voyages.

A statue of Zheng He.

Religion and  impact

- Many of his advisors and fellow sailors were Chinese Muslims and it is thought that his travels and subsequent emigration that followed led to the establishment of Chinese Muslim communities all over south East Asia.


 - Zheng He was a Muslim and visited Mecca during his voyages (one of the five pillars of Islam).

- Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country in the world and may be due to Zheng He’s travels.

-  Zheng He’s restored tomb in Nanjing built in the Islamic fashion, to reach the tomb there are twenty eight steps divided into seven flights to represent the seven voyages.

It is thought that Zheng He died during his seventh voyage and though he has a grave in China it is empty as he was probably buried at sea.

Chinese Muslim men today.

Indonesia, the most populated Muslim country in the world.