The Chinese Voyages of Exploration

The Chinese Voyages of Exploration Succeeded by the non-Chinese Qing Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty is considered to be the in conclusion native dynasty to exist. The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644 and is known as the greatest era of social stability and organized disposal (European). Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty he is in like manner known as Hongwu, Taizu, and Ming Taizu. Hongwu died in 1382, leaving his grandson, Huidi, the next heir. However, Chengzu, or Yongol, created a legions campaign to seize the thrown. This started a three twelvemonth civil war, but Yongol overcame Huidi and took the thrown as emperor butterfly in 1403.Yongol wanted all other countries to fear his Dynastys power and see it as be the strongest (Asia). He created an expansion plan of chinawares tribute system and as a declaration Zheng He was appointed to lead seven voyages (Europe). Zheng He, a muslim eunuch, was captured at the age of ten and was disposed the task of grouping boys to be castrated. During the measure of the voyages, Chinas technology was used to help bring in these massive ships that pit sail. Known as treasure ships, these 400 feet long and 600 feet wide boats were equipped with nine-spot sails, four decks, and armed with twelve cannons.There were as well as separate watertight com infractwork forcets that had been recently invented. There were 2 major advantages of these compartments. One was if the ship was hit, it would not sink and the second was that it offered a way of carrying water for the passengers, animals, and fish. some other invention that was put onto these ships was sternpost rudders. Sternpost rudders were used to maneuver in crowded harbors and narrow channels and were easily disposed to the outside rear (Asia). The Chinese would navigate by using a compass and sailing directions. all over the past 300 years, China had been strengthening its power in sea. A network of trade had been naturalised in relation to their growi ng need for spices, herbs, and raw materials. Zheng He started his first voyage in 1405, which was make up of 317 ships with over sixty of them being treasure ships and almost 28,000 men. He began his journey first taenia in Champa, Central Vietnam and Siam, present day Thailand. From there, he sailed to Java, Malacca, and his main destination of Cochin, India making his trip last until 1407. Zheng Hes second voyage started in 1409 and lasted two years.Although he did not take part in the voyage, he organized sixty-eight ships to travel to Calicut to take part in the inauguration of the newly king. From 1409 to 1411, the third voyage set sail. Zheng He took forty-eight ships and 30,000 soldiers to the same places that the first voyage went, but also included the Malay peninsula and Ceylong. In Ceylong, war broke out between the natives and his men. So, Zheng He ceased the fighting and captured the King. He proceeded to bring him back to China where he was later released. The fourt h voyage was often longer than the first three in distance.Lasting between 1413 and 1415, Zheng He, accompanied by twenty-five year old Muslim translator Ma Huan, stopped in many of the countries he previously visited. Yet, this time he controlled sixty-three ships and more than 28,000 men to Hormuz, which is located on the Persian Gulf. Starting in 1417, Zheng Hes fifth voyage headed to Aden, Africa, cities known as Mogadishu and Brawa, and Malindi. Many ambassadors decided to return to China with Zheng He. Again, it took two years to complete the expedition. The sixth voyage began in 1421, and only lasted a year.Zheng He visited the same countries mainly to return the ambassadors. In 1431, the seventh and final voyage took place. Due to Yongols death, his successor Xuande set forth the expedition. For two years, Zheng He visited places like the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Aden, and Hormuz. His fleet consisted of more than 27,000 men and over one hundred ships. He also visited Jidda by traveling up the Red Sea. In 1433, on his return trip to China, Zheng He died and was buried at sea (Asia). These expeditions created a line of conference between the Chinese and Southeast Asia.However, the voyages were stopped due to many reasons. One reason is cost. These trips were seen as a waste of money because during this time, China was campaigning against the Mongols and funding the construction of Peking (Europe). According to the court, Yongol used the Dynastys money in extravagant ways to promote land and sea expeditions. Also, his move of the capital from Nanjing to capital of Red China was very costly as well as his ordering of the construction of the Forbidden City, which involved great than a million workers.His decision to widen the Grand Canal to allow more transportation was also cost effective. Another reason for the ceasing of the voyages was due to natural disasters. Epidemics in Fujian, lightening strikes ruining the newly knowing Forbidden City, a nd the flooding of the Yellow River leaving millions without shelter and over 1000 acres infertile in 1448 were major money traps. Even though the Mongols had departed from Chinese borders, Pirates and smugglers became a major factor in the south (Asia).Zheng Hes voyages were supported by the Eunuchs and frowned upon by the Conservative Confucian court. In 1477, talk about another voyage had entered the courts. The vice president of the Ministry of War immediately took possession of Zheng Hes records stating that they are deceitful exaggerations of bizarre things far removed from the testimony of peoples eyes and ears (Asia). The Chinese were no longer inte rested in overseas affairs mainly because the Ming Dynastys major reference work of income was due to land tax and not trade tax.Thus, China did not become a naval power and over time the non-Chinese ruled the seas (Europe). These voyages can be seen as the reason China slash behind in new technological advances as well as l osing their dominance over the rest of the world. Work Cited The Ming Dynastys Maritime History. The European Voyages of Exploration. procure 1997. The Applied History Research Group, Web. 3 Mar 2010. . The Ming Voyages. Asia For Educators. Copyright 2009. Columbia University, Web. 3 Mar 2010. .