The Voyages of
Zheng He
Questions to be
answered:
1. Who was Zheng He?
2. Where did he travel?
3. What was the reason
for his voyages?
4. What was did his
voyages accomplish?
From 1405 until 1433, Admiral Zheng He made 7
voyages.
The purpose of the voyages was to establish trade
and diplomatic relations between China and
nations in Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian
Peninsula and Africa.
The fleets ranged in size from 48 to 317
ships carrying 27,000 to 30,000 sailors,
soldiers, merchants, and scholars.
http://www.slideshare.net/gsill/zheng-he14232704
One of Zheng He’s treasure
Ships
Columbus’
Ship
The ships used maps, star charts, and
compasses to navigate the open seas. It is
the first fleet in history to not hug the coast
as a means of guidance.
They took silk,
porcelain and
other goods to
trade.
Throughout each voyage, detailed maps
were made as well as information gathered
on the cultures encountered
The Voyages visited Southeast Asia, India,
the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.
The sixth voyage, 1421-22, returned ambassadors
to various countries, but concentrated on the
Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. Zheng He, a
Muslim, is thought to have made the hajj during this
voyage.
Zheng He and the Emperor of China, Yongle
(he was no on the trip), both died during the
seventh voyage.
With Zheng He’s death,
the voyages ended and
the fleet was dispersed.
Over the course of 28
years, they had:
• restored China’s
diplomatic and trade
relations.
• freed the ocean
routes from Asia to
India and Arabia of
pirates.
• established Chinese
communities that
exist today in many of
the places they had
visited.
Isolationism
A policy adopted by China of isolating the empire from the
affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances,
trade agreements, or overseas exploration.
This happened because the scholar officials
believed China to contain everything it needed and that
outside influences would destroy Chinese culture.
(They feared cultural diffusion)
Isolationism
China sought to devote the entire efforts of the
empire to its own advancement and remain at peace
by avoiding foreign entanglements and
responsibilities to foreign countries.
Positives
Negatives
Here is what China controlled
after Zheng He’s voyages.
Here is what
Europe
controlled after
the Age of
Exploration.
North and South
America
Africa
Australia
The Voyages of
Zheng He
1. Who was Zheng He?
2. Where did he travel?
3. What was the reason
for his voyages?
4. What was the result of
his voyages?