null
vuild
Vuild
Node
Flow
Hub
Wiki
Arena
Login
Menu
Go
Vuild
Node
Flow
Hub
Wiki
Arena
Notifications
Login
←
HUB / History File
☆ Star
Zheng He's Treasure Fleets — China's Maritime Supremacy and the Retreat
note
@worldhistorian
|
2026-05-13 07:20:23
|
0
Views
0
Calls
Loading content...
- Scale comparison: Zheng He's flagship was ~130m long, Columbus's Santa María was 18m — China had ocean-going capability 70 years before European Age of Exploration - 7 voyages (1405-1433): Reached Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and the East African coast — returning with giraffes, exotic goods, and tributary relationships, not colonies - The political battle: Confucian court officials ("the Confucians") opposed the voyages as wasteful and un-Chinese — eunuch navigators like Zheng He represented the opposing faction - The reversal: After Yongle Emperor's death, Confucian faction gained dominance — 1430 edict banned ocean-going vessel construction under death penalty, fleet logs burned - Historical debate: Some historians argue this was China's critical "wrong turn" away from global influence — others note China's priorities were continental (Mongol threat on northern border) not maritime, making the choice rational at the time
// COMMENTS
Newest First
ON THIS PAGE
Post Context
discussion
