Comparing European and Chinese Exploration During the Early Modern Era

Learning Goal Compare and contrast European and Chinese exploration efforts in terms of Motives for exploration Exploration efforts (who went & where) Global effects

Video: “World History Crash Course # 21” Focus Questions: Identify the three individuals mentioned in the video, along with their activities. Compare the motives for exploration of western European countries with China. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjEGncridoQ&list=PL3RTACt6PiTi_FpR79wki7EKcbcOuP8kw&index=193

Why did the Chinese not dominate the world since they seemingly had a 50-100 year head start on European exploration (Columbus & Vasco da Gama are in the 1490s)? Answer Each had different conceptions of the world and each societies’ place within it. Each had different attitudes towards merchants, the class that drives the engines of trade and travel.

Early European Conception of the World 1030 C.E. What do you see in the center of this world that is critical to the European perception of their heritage?

Korean Kangnido Map (1402) – Illustrates Chinese worldview What do you observe about the rest of the world in relation to China? (hint: it’s in the center)

China “Zhong guo” - Middle Kingdom As the “middle kingdom,” China was the cultural and political center of the world. All outsiders were barbarians. Little of value was seen to exist abroad. Europe Middle East Korea China “Zhong guo” - Middle Kingdom Africa

Motives for European Exploration Crusades  by-pass intermediaries to get to Asia. Renaissance  curiosity about other lands and peoples. Reformation  refugees & missionaries. Monarchs seeking new sources of revenue. Technological advances. Fame and fortune.

New Maritime Technologies Better Maps [Portulan] Hartman Astrolabe (1532) Mariner’s Compass Sextant

New Weapons Technology

Prince Henry, the Navigator School for Navigation, 1419

Museum of Navigation in Lisbon

Portuguese Maritime Empire Exploring the west coast of Africa. Bartolomeo Dias, 1487. Vasco da Gama, 1498. Calicut. Admiral Alfonso de Albuquerque (Goa, 1510; Malacca, 1511).

Christofo Colon [1451-1506]

Columbus’ Four Voyages

Other Voyages of Exploration

Ferdinand Magellan & the First Circumnavigation of the World: Early 16c

Atlantic Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”

Columbus Childhood Born 1451 in Genoa to a Wool Weaver family. Assisted father in selling and processing wool. Began Seafaring as a teen. Held various jobs on ships At around age 25, was on ship bound for England that was sank by privateers. Information courtesy of http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus/columbus.html http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/9807/14/world.flood.wrap/map.italy.genoa.rome.jpg

Young Adult Worked with brother as cartographer and book collector Took many commissions to sail all over Atlantic Ocean including Iceland. Married a poor noble in Lisbon, had a son, and wife died soon thereafter. Deduced that “The East” could be reached by going west. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/03/05/portugal.bridge.04/link.portugal.map.jpg

The Quest In order to explore, Columbus needed royal backing. Why: Fund expedition legitimize discovery conduct diplomatic relations colonize the land exploitation of the riches protect and defend the new colony

Funding Portugal passed on Columbus’ missions. Moved to Spain in 1485 Felt it was too expensive Too little benefit Moved to Spain in 1485 Finally, in the last weeks of 1491, Columbus convinced the King and Queen of Spain to support his journey.

Missions Columbus’ expeditions are well storied. Here are some factual highlights. Voyage 1 - 1492, 3 ships, 90 Men, 32 weeks roundtrip, 1 ship lost, visited modern day Bahama’s, Cuba, and Hispaniola. http://www.evgschool.org/Christopher%20Columbus.htm

4 Voyages In all, Columbus made 4 voyages and distinctly changed the European and American worlds with the new contact. Criticized for treatment of natives, either directly, or through subsequent Spanish file:/Users/brianadam/.Groupwise/badam/Client/35153/139894/Columbusvzheng.doc explorers. Information from http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus/columbus.html

China did NOT try to come to Europe 1300’s and 1400’s China felt that European goods and technology were far inferior. http://history.binghamton.edu/hist130/maps/china-3.htm Believed that Europe only had wool and wine to offer.

Zheng He and the Chinese “Discovery” of the World Zheng He is wrongly labeled by many as a Chinese Columbus, or as an explorer. He was not exploring the unknown. Rather, he was on diplomatic & economic voyages to lands that China wished to profit from and add to itssphere of influence. China at this time was ruled by the Ming dynasty – the lastgreat native Chinese imperial dynasty beginning in the 14th century.

Bringing tribute to the Ming court After their defeat of the Mongols, the Ming wished to reassert Chinese traditional cultural and political influence throughout Asia.

The Golden Throne of the Ming China expected all foreign merchants and rulers to pay tribute to the golden throne – thus acknowledging the superiority of Chinese Culture. Zheng He’s voyages were one method for the Ming emperor to exclaim his greatness and convince others to pay tribute to China.

Tribute -Zheng He’s giraffe given by an In his voyages, Zheng He would give gifts and extract tribute. Gifts - Chinese porcelain – valued the world over for its quality, relative durability, & beauty. Tribute -Zheng He’s giraffe given by an East African ruler as tribute. It was believed to be the mythical quirin, ki-lin, or ch'i-lin – the “Chinese unicorn.” Source: http://www.bangorschools.net/hs/SR/Zhenghe.html Source: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He

China’s Motives for Exploration Establish Chinese diplomatic and military supremacy as the “center of the world” Imperial control over foreign trade with China Display might of the Ming Dynasty Extend Chinese tributary system

The flagship of the fleet was a nine-masted vessel measuring 440 feet The flagship of the fleet was a nine-masted vessel measuring 440 feet. In comparison, Columbus’ St. Maria was eighty-five feet.

Zheng He Zheng He grew up in the province of Yunnan. Province was asylum for exiled members of former Mongol rulers Family followed religion Islam. Elder males in family told tales of travel since they had made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Ming Imperial army attacked province and killed Zheng He’s family. As was custom, surviving young males were castrated, making Zheng a Eunuch. Became a servant to Zhu Di, the 4th son of the Emperor. Majority of information from: Hsu, C. (2004, February 2). The Chinese Columbus? U.S. News & World Report, 136 (7), 56 – 59. http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/journey2001/intro.html

Education and Advancement Received excellent education. Assisted master Zhu Di in strategy. Rode next to Zhu Di in battle. Zhu Di became 3rd Ming Emperor Zheng He named Admiral and commander-in-chief of treasure fleet.

Missions Zheng He visited 30 nations over 7 voyages Fleet commonly consisted of over 60 large ships - some as big as 600 feet long. These were supported by hundreds of smaller ships. He made it as far as Africa Made pilgrimage to Mecca Rumored to have traveled to South America Sheng He can also be written Cheng-ho. http://www.tourism-melaka.com/new/tourism/history/images/map_01.gif

Changing Times Zheng He practiced advanced politics and trade tactics to influence neighboring countries. Many places that Zheng He went erected monuments and temples in his honor. Returned to China with great fame for the final time at age 62. A new Ming Emperor did not want to continue the voyages, instead worrying about internal problems. Even Zheng He’s logs were destroyed to prevent future traveling wishes.

FUN FACT! When foreign ambassadors came to the Chinese court, they "kowtowed" as they approached the emperor. (The required process of "kowtow" was to kneel three times and bow one's head to the floor three times at each kneeling.) In return for tribute from other countries, the emperor sent gifts and special seals that confirmed their rulers' authority. These foreign kings were officially made part of the Ming Dynasty.

From 1405-1433, I made seven voyages reaching Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Java, Ceylon, India, Persia, Arabia, Egypt, and East Africa.

A stamp depicting the many voyages of my Treasure fleet. Unfortunately, Emperor Yongle died in 1424, ending all naval expeditions until 1431. Then, during my seventh and final voyage in 1431-33, I died returning from Sri Lanka. A stamp depicting the many voyages of my Treasure fleet.

After Zheng He died, the Treasure Fleets were dismantled and banned from being used. Government sponsored voyages ceased and all official records of Zheng He’s travels were destroyed. Why do you think the Chinese decided to isolate themselves and discontinue the Treasure Fleet voyages?

Chinese influence on the world ceased, thus opening the door for the rise of European superpowers. By the year 1500, Columbus had discovered the New World and Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese sailor, had entered the Indian Ocean and laid the groundwork for an era of Asian colonization by European naval powers

A comparison of Columbus and Zheng He Heralded Explorers A comparison of Columbus and Zheng He Photo Courtesy of Photo Courtesy of Zheng He Institute http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal30.htm http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/journey2001/intro.html

Direct Comparison - Venn Diagram Zheng He Columbus Italian Sailed for Spain History well known all over world Changed continents Born into common family Learned seafaring as job Married into Noble family - Connection to royalty Fought to get backing exploited natives Took Credit for discoveries Celebrated Christian Chinese Sailed for China Accomplishments just now revered Muslim Family Killed Servant to Royal Court Appointed by Emperor Ambassador for China Commanded Large fleet sailed out of sight of land Brought empire into contact with new ideas, foods, and animals. http://www.chinapage.org/zhenghe.html

Comparing European and Chinese Exploration With a partner, use the materials to develop and draw a Venn diagram in your notebooks. Consider: Motives Tools Major players Destinations Effects

DO NOW – 8 MINUTES On the LEFT of this slide, write down similarities and evidence to illustrate these similarities On the RIGHT of this slide, write down differences and evidence to illustrate these differences EACH PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENTERING TWO LEGIBLE PIECES OF INFORMATION!

Assessment – 30 points Write an acceptable two sentence comparative thesis (10 pts.) Bullet out an essay outline, listing the 7 pieces of specific evidence you would use to support your thesis (20 pts.) DUE IN 15 MINUTES!

Written Assessment = 25 points In one paragraph, Compare and contrast European and Chinese exploration efforts in terms of Motives for exploration Exploration efforts (who went & where) Global effects Grading: 25 point assessment Topic sentence = 3 points Compare/contrast using specific explanation for each bulleted item above = 12 points Suggestion, based on historical knowledge, as to why similarities and differences existed = 5 points