Chinese Maritime Expansion Analysis

Chinese Maritime Expansion. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, Chinese emperors sought to influence and establish connections with states along the Indian Ocean through a series of maritime expeditions. The observations and descriptions of the foreign countries were recorded by Chinese expeditioners who were eager to report their findings to the emperor such as Ma Huan. Through his texts named The Overall Survey of the Ocean’s Shores, Ma Huan offers a unique and portrayal of the Afro-Eurasian world. By using the perspective of a Chinese explorer, The Overall Survey of the Ocean’s Shores by Ma Huan provides detailed information about the unknown cultural, social and political structure of the mysterious Muslim world. Chinese naval expeditions

It is worth highlighting that the Asian empire had restricted international maritime trade in 1371. For this reason, when the decision of allowing trade between countries was approved around the late XV century, China was in a position where it did not have enough contact with outside countries. (CITATION) To ensure favorable interactions, Chinese imperators would send gifts to the rulers of the countries. This social practice could be observed in the next statement, “Whereupon he [the] selected an interpreter and others, seven men in all, and sent them with a load of musk, porcelain articles, and other things; [and] they joined a ship of this country and went there” (CITATION). Through delicate and elaborated gifts, they would exhibit the greatness of the Chinese empire. In this way, Chinese travelers would be granted with the favor of the ruling elites, as it was in Ma Huan’s case.

Among the Muslim states along the Indian Ocean Ma Huan visited, he decided to emphasize his descriptions on describing the countries of Bengal, Hormuz and Mecca. In his memories, Ma Huan’s aimed to report and analyze religious and traditional practices, social structure within and between each