Transcript SEI.04_Day4_Lecture1_Chinese_Exploration

DO NOW: Chinese feelings
[paragraph] Based on your reading from
yesterday, how did the Chinese (during the
Ming Dynasty) feel about trading with
foreigners? Why did they feel this way?
Don’t forget:
1. Unit 2 binder work due YESTERDAY
(WED)
2. All Q1 late work due MONDAY
Unit #3, Lecture #1:
Early Chinese Exploration
Key Questions:
 What role did the Chinese play in early global
navigation?
 Why did the Chinese lose their initial advantage and
power?
1. Early navigation: DANGERS
BIG QUESTION: Are
the rewards worth the
risk?
Oceans are a big
unknown – why?
 Sea monsters (!)
 untested naval
technology
 weather uncertainty
BOTTOM LINE: Need to be brave and confident (or
dumb…greedy) to be a sailor in the 15th – 16th century.
Diego
Gutierrez,
Map of the
New World
(1562)
Closeups…
Would YOU
be
nervous???
A story…
(no, you don’t need to write this)
We’ve heard a lot about
European explorers…
But what about the Chinese
explorers who came
EARLIER? And
accomplished similar
extraordinary feats?
2. China: The Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644)
A.Kick out the
Mongols
B.Build Great Wall
of China
C.Build strong
navy 
expansion!
3. Zheng He
A. Eunuch: a castrated
man (can’t have kids!)
 Emperors loved to have
eunuchs as close
advisors and officials
(WHY?)
3. Zheng He
B.1405-33: Led 7 major
naval expeditions
throughout the Indian
Ocean
WHY?
#1. Trade
#2. Tribute (“gift”)
“Columb
us is a
wimp”
3. Zheng He (cont.)
C. Some expedition
details
62 large boats; 100
smaller; 30,000 crew
Largest ships in the
world (at the time)
Reached India and
Africa
A Map of Zheng He’s voyages
D. Zheng He vs. European Explorers
Zheng He: 1405-33
Christopher Columbus: 1492-93
 “New World”
Vasco de Gama: 1497-98
 “discovers” Indian Ocean
Ferdinand Magellan: 1519-22
 around the world!
4. So, what happened?
If the Chinese were so advanced and ahead of the
Europeans when it came to naval technology…
 HOW DID THE EUROPEANS SURPASS
THEM IN POWER?
BRAINSTORM…
Possible reasons…
A. More focus on agriculture
and education
Possible reasons…
B. Mongols threatening! Spend $ on land defenses.
Possible reasons…
C. Chinese government restricts contact with
foreigners
(and…destroy all larger ships!)
KOW TOW to me!
Bow
before
me. Now.
Wrap up:
What is a “turning point”?
Brainstorm: What are some “turning points”
in world history?
 Do you think China’s decision to isolate
itself from world contact in the 15th century
can be considered a “turning point” in
world history. Why or why not?