Download - Zheng He and the Treasure Fleets
Zheng He and the Treasure Fleets
Mr. OrnsteinWillow Canyon AP History
Ming Dynasty
1368-1644Defeat
Mongols/Yuan Dynasty
Emperor Zhu Di/Yongle
1360-1424 3rd Ming Emperor Overthrows Nephew Responsible for:-Rebuilding Great Wall-Fixing Grand Canal-Building Forbidden City
in Beijing-Zheng He’s Treasure
Fleets
Answer:
What does this picture suggest about Trade during the Ming Dynasty?
Zheng He
1371-1433 Chinese “Christopher
Columbus” Admiral of Ming
Dynasty Treasure Fleets
Sailed Around India Ocean Throughout Asia and East Coast of Africa
Indian Ocean Trade
The Treasure fleet of the Ming was part of the larger Indian Ocean trade which included:
East Africa, India, and Arabia
Original Purpose of Treasure Fleets
Zhu Di is afraid his nephew is in hiding plotting revenge.
To collect tribute from foreign nations to China and transport diplomats to and from China.
Technology and the Treasure Fleets compared to Europe
Ships were bigger and stronger.
Better knowledge of monsoon and other weather patterns
Use of Compass Better knowledge of
astronomy Use of Advanced Arab
Navigation Skills
Some Say
Zheng He Circumnavigated the Globe before Magellen.
The Chinese Reached the Americas and Australia before the Europeans
The Ming Move to Isolation
At the height of the Treasure Fleets power the Ming Dynasty had the fleet destroyed and most of its records burned.
The Ming Dynasty moved towards a strong policy of isolation.
Answer???
How might world history have been different if Zheng He and the Chinese did reach the Americas before the Europeans?
How might history have been different if the Chinese did not destroy their fleet?
Theories of Why China Destroyed Their Treasure Fleets
Zheng He Died. Zhu Di died and
successors were not interested in continuing voyages.
Fire in Forbidden City and its relation to the Mandate of Heaven.
Expensive. High Loss of Life. Confucian Advisors
were strongly against. China needed to use
resourced to stop rebellion in Vietnam.