1. Comparing European and Chinese Exploration During the Early Modern Era

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

3. 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.

4. Why did the Chinese not dominate the world since they seemingly had a 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.

5. 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?

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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.

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

10. New Weapons Technology

11. Prince Henry, the Navigator
School for Navigation, 1419

12. Museum of Navigation in Lisbon

13. 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).

14. Christofo Colon [ ]

15. Columbus’ Four Voyages

16. Other Voyages of Exploration

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

18. Atlantic Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Missions
Columbus’ expeditions are well storied. Here are some factual highlights.
Voyage , 3 ships, 90 Men, 32 weeks roundtrip, 1 ship lost, visited modern day Bahama’s, Cuba, and Hispaniola.

24. 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

25. China did NOT try to come to Europe
1300’s and 1400’s China felt that European goods and technology were far inferior.
Believed that Europe only had wool and wine to offer.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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:
Source:

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

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

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

39. 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?

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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

44. 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!

45. 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!

46. 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