Download Zheng He`s sailing to West Ocean

Zheng He’s sailing to West Ocean
SEP 2007 |
JIN DING, CHAOJIAN SHI ,ADAM WEINTRIT
An important waypoint on passage of navigation history
Zheng He’s Exploration of the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean was an
important event at the turning point of the world history. It was a golden opportunity for
China to strengthen itself and make greater contributions to human beings. Unfortunately,
to some extend, Zheng He’s magnificent feat in the history of navigation was later
considered as a sheer waste of energy and money and a “failure policy”, and thus was put
an end to. Zheng He’s trip, therefore, did not produce long-term effects. China still cut
off itself from the out side world and stopped her exploration of ocean navigation, while
Europeans, along the routes opened up by their expeditions, reached America, Africa and
Asia and established colonies all over the world, which greatly promoted the capitalist
development. In spite that the scale of Zheng He’s navigation far exceeded that of
Columbus’s “Great Discovery” which followed some 80 years afterward, the former had
much less effect on the progress of the world history.
The reasons behind the suppression are complicated (Chen 2005, Lin 2003, Ma et al
2006). Confucian culture focusing on harmony and not conquering limited the
achievements of collecting wealth and expanding territory. Agriculture oriented policy
refrained exploration of nature and undervalued the scientific findings and technological
innovations. The reasons may also include seeking the undeserved reputation of
“emperorship of the whole world”, and spending too much money and resources without
the expected effects. However, Zheng He’s sailing to West Ocean did mark an important
waypoint on the passage of world navigation history. Never before in the world had there
been any such adventure that was in such a scale, lasted for such a long time, had so
many people under command, fared so far into the ocean, and had such advanced
navigation technologies. It was suggested that the strength of Chinese naval exceeded the
total strength of all the other countries of the world in that period of time (Wang 2005).
Zheng He’s great voyages marked the age that the human civilization extended from land
to ocean materialized an unprecedented miracle in the navigation history of China or
even in the world.
http://mycoordinates.org/zheng-he%E2%80%99s-sailing-to-west-ocean/all/1/
BBC History
Vasco da Gama was born in about 1460 into a noble family. Little is known of his early
life. In 1497, he was appointed to command an expedition equipped by the Portuguese
government, whose intention was to find a maritime route to the East.
Setting off in July 1497, da Gama's expedition took advantage of the prevailing winds by
sailing south down the coast of Africa, then veering far out into the Atlantic and swinging
back in an arc to arrive off the southern African coast. This established a route still
followed by sailing vessels. The expedition then rounded the Cape of Good and, after
sailing up the coast of east Africa, took on an Arab navigator who helped them reach the
Indian coast, at Calicut (now Kozhikode) in May 1498. This voyage launched the allwater route from Europe to Asia.
Da Gama returned to Portugal. The king immediately dispatched another expedition to
secure a trading post at Calicut. After hearing of the massacre of all those at the trading
post, da Gama sailed for India again in 1502 attacking Arab Muslim ships he met on the
way. He forced the ruler of Calicut to make peace and, on his return voyage along the
east African coast established Portuguese trading posts in what is now Mozambique.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/da_gama_vasco.shtml
BBC History
Known as 'the man who discovered America', Columbus was in fact trying to find a
westward sea passage to the Orient when he landed in the New World in 1492. This
unintentional discovery was to change the course of world history.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa between August and October 1451. His father
was a weaver and small-time merchant. As a teenager, Christopher went to sea, travelled
extensively and eventually made Portugal his base. It was here that he initially attempted
to gain royal patronage for a westward voyage to the Orient - his 'enterprise of the Indies'.
When this failed, and appeals to the French and English courts were also rejected,
Columbus found himself in Spain, still struggling to win backing for his project. Finally,
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor the expedition, and on 3 August
1492, Columbus and his fleet of three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Niña, set
sail across the Atlantic.
Ten weeks later, land was sighted. On 12 October, Columbus and a group of his men set
foot on an island in what later became known as the Bahamas. Believing that they had
reached the Indies, the newcomers dubbed the natives 'Indians'. Initial encounters were
friendly, but indigenous populations all over the New World were soon to be devastated
by their contact with Europeans. Columbus landed on a number of other islands in the
Caribbean, including Cuba and Hispaniola, and returned to Spain in triumph. He was
made 'admiral of the Seven Seas' and viceroy of the Indies, and within a few months, set
off on a second and larger voyage. More territory was covered, but the Asian lands that
Columbus was aiming for remained elusive. Indeed, others began to dispute whether this
was in fact the Orient or a completely 'new' world.
Columbus made two further voyages to the newfound territories, but suffered defeat and
humiliation along the way. A great navigator, Columbus was less successful as an
administrator and was accused of mismanagement. He died on 20 May 1506 a wealthy
but disappointed man.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/columbus_christopher.shtml