FQ: How were Cheng He's voyages, and treatment, reflective of Ming Policy?

Forbidden City Beijing

(Nanjing was 1st Ming capital)

Great Wall Completed

(Along with Grand Canal)

Maritime Challenges

Cheng He (7 Voyages: 1405 - 1433)

Emperor Yongle (aka Chengzu: 1402 - 1424)

Treasure Junks

Largest wooden

vessels ever constructed

A Crushing Display of China’s Advanced Status

Sailing TechnologyAxial Rudder: An axial rudder is a vertical blade at the stern of a vessel that can be used to change direction. Multiple Masts and Sails: A ship with multiple masts and sails can sail better into the wind. Watertight Compartments in Ship Hulls: These compartments prevent water from filling the entire hull of a ship after it has been damaged.

Sailing TechnologyLeeboard: A leeboard is a board that is lowered into the water to prevent a ship from drifting sideways. Magnetic Compass: The magnetic compass allows sailors to determine the direction of the ship when navigators are out of sight of land. The magnetic compass made it possible to find direction at sea.

Length of longest ship

Number of masts of

longest ship

Number of ships in fleet

Number of crew members in

fleet

Christopher Columbus

(Explorer A)

85 feet

3 masts

3 ships

90

Zheng He

(Explorer B)

400 feet

9 masts

300 ships

28,000

Resources and Technology

Temple, Robert K. G., and Joseph Needham. The Genius of China: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery, and Invention. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986.

When did each of the explorer’s society develop the following technology? Christopher Zheng He Columbus

Axial Rudder 12th Century 1st Century Multiple Masts and Sails 14th Century 2nd Century Watertight Compartments in Ship Hulls 18th Century 2nd Century Leeboard 16th Century 8th Century Magnetic Compass 12th Century 9-11th Century

Definition

Incentive: Any reward or benefit, such as money, advantage or good feeling, that motivates people to do something.

Inter-Continental Sea Travel

All this data begs a question. Why didn’t the Chinese “Discover” the

American Continents?

Technological AdvantageMaterial

Ship design

Astrolabe

Magnetic Compass

Chronometer

Sail Design

Accurate maps

Science

• Measurements => coordinates

• Magnetic vs. True North • Astronomy • Geo-physics: wind & sea

currents

Policy Change after Yongle

Tributary System

Tributary States

Japan

Annam (Vietnam)

Java

Ritual

• Exchange gifts • Annual visits by

ambassadors • Kowtowing (includes

prostration)