Expeditions
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The Ming Dynasty was known for its grand expeditions, led mostly by Zheng He.
From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He launched seven ocean expeditions, which involved hundreds of ships and tens of thousands of people. [2] The most impressive fleet was the sixty "Treasure Ships" sailed in his first voyage. Each over 400 feet long and 160 feet wide, ships like this had never been seen before anywhere in the world. [3]
From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He launched seven ocean expeditions, which involved hundreds of ships and tens of thousands of people. [2] The most impressive fleet was the sixty "Treasure Ships" sailed in his first voyage. Each over 400 feet long and 160 feet wide, ships like this had never been seen before anywhere in the world. [3]
Foreign Relations
An inscription carved into a temple in southeastern China (1431) said, “The Imperial Ming Dynasty unifying seas and continents, surpassing the three dynasties even goes beyond the Han and Tang dynasties. The countries beyond the horizon and from the ends of the earth have all become subjects.” [4]
As shown by the quote above, Zheng He's expeditions caused foreign relations to be a large part of China's government and economy. Their main purpose was for political reasons; it was to display the legitimacy of China's power around the world. This was done through gifts/ bribery and military force. [5] Another purpose for Zheng He's fleets was trade. Ships carried porcelain and other Chinese goods to western countries, and they brought back goods such as spices and gold. [6]
Under the Ming Dynasty, China had "assertive" foreign policies. [7] They really used Zheng He's expeditions to their advantage, and they took the leadership and dominance. They were known as the Middle Kingdom because they were the all powerful center of the world. China was shown so much respect, it was even known as "equivalent to all under heaven". [8]
As shown by the quote above, Zheng He's expeditions caused foreign relations to be a large part of China's government and economy. Their main purpose was for political reasons; it was to display the legitimacy of China's power around the world. This was done through gifts/ bribery and military force. [5] Another purpose for Zheng He's fleets was trade. Ships carried porcelain and other Chinese goods to western countries, and they brought back goods such as spices and gold. [6]
Under the Ming Dynasty, China had "assertive" foreign policies. [7] They really used Zheng He's expeditions to their advantage, and they took the leadership and dominance. They were known as the Middle Kingdom because they were the all powerful center of the world. China was shown so much respect, it was even known as "equivalent to all under heaven". [8]
1. Mike Peel, Zheng He's Treasure Ship 1, photograph, Wikipedia, August 13, 2013, accessed November 15, 2014, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Zheng_He%27s_Treasure_Ship_1.jpg.
2. Sue Gronewald Gronewald, "The Ming Voyages," Asia for Educators, accessed November 11, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000ce_mingvoyages.htm.Sue Gronewald Gronewald, "The Ming Voyages," Asia for Educators, accessed November 11, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000ce_mingvoyages.htm.
3. IBID.
4. David Morison, trans., "Zheng He (Ming) Documents (1400s)," lasalle.edu, accessed November 6, 2014, http://www.lasalle.edu/~mcinneshin/356/wk03/zhenghe.htm.
5. Roderick Conway Morris, "Ming: The Dynasty Behind the Vases," NY Times, October 16, 2014.
6. IBID.
7. Richard Wertz, R, "Relations During Imperial China," ibiblio.org, accessed November 6, 2014, http://www.ibiblio.org/chinesehistory/contents/03pol/c05s01.html.
8. IBID.