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.