Zheng He was a admirable Chinese Muslim, whom led all of the seven voyages of exploration during the Ming Dynasty. Out of all of the remarkable factors, scale was the most present during Zheng He's voyages. Everything ranging from the distances traveled to the fleet size to the ship's measurements was large in scale. Anywhere from forty to thirty ships sailed in each expedition, including fighting ships, storage ships, and large treasure ships measuring more than four hundred feet long. On some voyages the crews numbered over a remarkable twenty-seven thousand. Each crew would be equipped with sailors, soldiers, carpenters, interpreters, accountants, doctors, and religious leaders. One of the ships on Zheng He's he's voyages could be compared
On reason we should celebrate is his fleet made incredible distances and destinations, especially for the period of time he traveled in. Zheng He traveled 105,300 total miles in his life. (DOC A) One round trip from Nanjing, his home port in China, to Calicut, one of many destinations he traveled to on his voyages, was a total of 11,600 miles. (DOC A) It took 18,500 total miles to take a round trip from Nanjing to the east of Africa, which was another one of the popular ports that he traveled to. (DOC A) The distance that was
His first voyage took place in 1598 with his uncle. He was on his own for his next trip which lasted 2 years. He was in France from 1603 until 1607. They then found some West Indians that
When comparing the Chinese and Western historical development, the similar key events would have very different outcomes due to their different backgrounds. During the fifteenth century, Zheng He was commissioned to lead the “treasure ships” for seven voyages down the Western Seas. And, Prince Henry sent expeditions to explore the western coast of Africa. China and Portugal, the both ends of the Eurasian continent, almost simultaneously began marine navigations. They have shared some similar features, but there are actually major differences between the two. This paper will compare and contrast these two remarkable explorers. The focus will be on the ideas and circumstances that influenced their actions, and their importance in shaping history.
Prince Henry of Portugal, more commonly known as Henry the Navigator, and Zheng He, a successful Chinese admiral, were both extremely accomplished men throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. During this era, many accomplished explorers ventured out into the ocean and discovered new lands, two of the most important men being Henry the Navigator and Zheng He. Although both men came from different backgrounds, their contrasting societies and structures affected the way in which they regarded economic and political expansion and also their contact with other cultures. Societies like the Chinese and Portuguese had many cultural differences such as their different religions. The Chinese practiced neo-Confucianism whereas the Portuguese were Christians which was one of the many purposes of their exploration, to spread Christianity. There were also many cultural similarities between the two societies such as their long lasting histories and their explorer’s curiosity to seek out to new lands, which resulted the two societies in having different views on economic and political expansion and contact with other cultures. Both Confucian and Christian ideologies favored those who worked over the wealthy. Thus, to a larger extent, the structures and values of a society have an extensive impact on the way people view economic and political expansion and contact with other cultures.
Accompanied by 27,000 men on 62 large and 255 small ships, the Chinese eunuch Zheng He, led 7 naval expeditions to Southeast Asia, Middle East and east coast of Africa in the span of 28 years during the Ming Dynasty. The scale of Zheng He’s fleet was unprecedented in world history. The large treasure ships used during the expeditions were purported to be 440 feet long and 180 feet wide (Dreyer, p. 102). Throughout his travels, Zheng He brought Chinese tea, porcelain and silk products to foreign countries and also brought back exotic goods to the Ming court such as spices, plants and leather. Although his voyages fostered commercial trades and cultural exchange between China and foreign countries, the goal of his expeditions stemmed from the political motivation to maintain the tributary system and his voyages had important political implication of causing Neo-Confucian opposition and suspension of the expedition.
One of the oldest American mysteries can be traced back to August 1587 when 115 English colonists arrived at Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina. John White, the newly elected governor of the colony, decided that once they were settled in he would travel back to England for some needed supplies. As he arrived, a massive naval war broke out between the French and the English which barred him from returning to Roanoke for three years. After leaving his wife, daughter, and infant granddaughter in Roanoke, White was anxious to get back to say the least. Returning to the colony shores puzzled White as there was nobody to be seen. After searching thoroughly
According to Biography.com, Ernest Shackleton once wrote, “Life to me is the greatest of all games. The danger lies in treating it as a trivial game, a game to be taken lightly, and a game in which the rules don't matter much. The rules matter a great deal. The game has to be played fairly or it is no game at all. And even to win the game is not the chief end. The chief end is to win it honorably and splendidly.” Ernest Shackleton, British explorer, set off on a voyage to be the first to successfully cross the continent of Antarctica over land from west to east. As fate would have it though, they would never make it to Antarctica. However, he successfully brought all 27 men of his expedition crew home alive after his ship sunk by crippling
und three hundred men. His journey took him around three years and while making this journey he was thinking about no one but himself. Magellan took all the credit for everything and without his crew members he would be nothing and could not have achieved half as much. He also ended up using violence to make people change they way they believe. Magellan was not worth defending and shouldn't get all the credit he does.
Although there is much debate about Magellan and his crew, facts show that Magellan achieved great success and he proved that the world could be navigated by sea. He successfully routed and crossed the Strait of Magellan even though it was unknown to Europeans and despite the various obstacles (Doc. C). In total, the voyage of Magellan took three years, and although Magellan never returned to Spain, he discovered the route to Asia through the Western Hemisphere which opened up trade and expanded European knowledge about the
The Chinese navy in the early 1400’s was very powerful but unfortunately it grew weaker and weaker over time. The cause of this was that China ran into political problems which prevented future voyages.
Who was Sir Francis Drake? Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain, slave trader, and a privateer of the Elizabethan. Drake played major roles in battles like the Rathlin Island Massacre and many others in which will be said later in my report. He carried out the second circumnavigation on a single expedition and claimed what is now California. Drake’s nickname was El Draque which in latin means “The dragon”. Lastly, the base of his operations was the Caribbean sea. This is who I am going to do my report on.
Sir Francis Drake is known for England's defeat of the Spanish Armada. He was a sea dog and he sailed around the world. Drake was actually the first one to sail around the world since Magellan died in his journey.
Before the most famous historic voyage to the Americas Christopher Columbus had no support to go on his expedition. Christopher Columbus tried to get support from the King of Portugal John II, but he was turned down. Spain finally agreed to sponsor his voyage in 1492 across the Atlantic Ocean. By agreeing to sponsor Christopher Columbus voyage they believed they would have gained leverage in what they were trying to do in Spain. The Reconquista made the Spaniards very powerful. By Christopher Columbus finding new land with people and gold it convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to continue to support his voyages. Even though the king and queen believed that allowing him to go on the voyages benefited them it actually allowed Christopher
There is a debate whether or not Marco Polo truly went to China. The side that does not believe Marco Polo traveled to China has this view because Marco Polo did not mention the Great Wall. In addition, the Chinese culture was not noted of. Being a foreigner, Marco Polo did not write about these strange things such as foot binding, calligraphy and etcetera. Not only that, but Marco Polo did not catch onto and learn the Chinese language due to the time he was there. Also, Marco Polo was not mentioned or documented about directly in the Chinese writings. However, three Venetians were written about.
went on seven fantastic voyages which earned him fame for the rest of his life.