Zheng He Voyages

To be an explorer one must go off the beaten path, they must actively be trying to discover something new. Zheng He did not do so, and that is why he should not be considered an explorer. Zheng He was knowingly sent to places that and already been discovered and were actively gone to by merchants and traders. Which makes one ponder; why would an emperor build a massive armada if it were not for exploratory purposes? The fleet was built for imperialistic reasons to show the world that they should be intimidated by China. They went into situations of fragmentation of fighting and made the strength and power of China clear to all. Ultimately, the voyages of Zheng He were to promote tributary relationships, they were not for discovery or exploration

After this, China shied away from maritime travels and expenses and many records of Zheng He and his voyages disappeared. It was not until the twentieth century that Zheng He started to become an interest again. As so, the significance of his travels could once more be understood by the world. Zheng He’s voyages, put China in the history of oceanic “…exploration, trade, colonization, and exercise of sea power, even if such portrayals took Zheng He out of the context of early Ming history and viewed his voyages from a Western analytical perspective.” (Dreyer, 165). Not to mention, the sheer size of his fleet and treasure ships; which at that time was a massive achievement of its own. Apart from the significance of his fleet and voyages, Zheng He himself also deserves credit for rising so high, as a eunuch who came from humble beginnings. In this biography, Dreyer argues that Zheng He was not an explorer and that he was sent on the voyages for imperialistic reasons, showing the strength of China. At multiple points, Dreyer makes efforts to prove that these voyages were to show military power on already established trade route. Dreyer says “Zheng He was showing the flag to overawe, rather than exploring in any sense…” (53). Dreyer sees Zheng He’s travels as a way to enforce tributary relationships in Asia and India and Africa by showing their grandiose ability and

Zheng He worked his way up as eunuch to have high standing with the emperor. He traveled much of the Indian, Southeast Asian, Malaysian, and West African world. If it were not for Zheng He’s voyages, China would not have as large of a role in the history of oceanic travel and naval force. Zheng He’s fleet also is significant and makes one ponder how in that time they were able to produce such massive ships. Although Zheng He was not an explorer and his voyages were imperialistic, an intimidation tactic, and tributary relationship based, his expeditions were important to history, as is he. Our world would undoubtedly, be different if it were not for the voyages of Zheng