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Lesson 3: On the Eve of Globalization
China and the 'Old World' on the Eve of Globalization
Silk Road
Early contact between Rome and Tang China
Tang Dynast and Middle East empires reopen routes
Islam from ME and Buddhism from the east start spreading
Empires start to fall apart at this time
Mongols take over trade route, leave you alone if you leave them alone
Trading mostly consists of materials, gold, luxuries and ofc silk
Where theres trade, technology and ideas spread
Indian Ocean Trade 750 - 1500 CE
A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region.
Ships followed monsoon winds
China → S.E. Asia → India → East Africa
Arab & Indian merchants dominated ocean trade
Although the both the rudder and compass was invented in China, the Chinese do not like to travel, they preferred for other traders to come to China.
Africa | Asia |
Iron | Silk |
Ivory | Porcelain |
Gold | Sugar |
Coffee | Cotton |
Spices | Spices |
Slaves | Precious woods |
Trading of African slaves on the Indian Ocean Trade between Asians and Arabs predate the European slave trade.
China Rises
Ruled by Mongols, treated Hans as second class men
Zhu Yuanzhang leads rebellion to drive out mongols in 1368, founds Ming Dynasty as Hongwu Emperor.
朱元璋
鄭和
朱棣
Leader of rebellion against Mongols
10 year old sone of a minor Mongol official
Captured and castrated 1381
Sent to serve Zhu Di
Crowned Commander of Ming fleets by Zhu DI
Commanded fleets sailed as far as east Africa
Zhu Di seizes Ming throne in 1402 and becomes YongLe Emperor with help of Zheng He.
Plans the reintroduce China back to world stage, builds fleets of ships, puts ZhengHe as commander
Ming flexes its muscles
Yongle wants to reassert authority
continues batter with northern mongol tribes
try to re-establish power in north Vietnam (failed)
supports newly-founded sultanate of malacca (modern day Malay/Singapore)
(1405-1433) 7 voyages for trade & tribute total
Zhu Di build an astounding amount of boats to demonstrate the strength and power of the Ming Dynasty
First Ming voyage has 317 and over 27000 men ( Boats had good conditions for time period)
Treasure Voyages
Ming Dynasty also recieved many tributes and gifts on voyages, including several giraffes that were bring to Nanjing and caused a sensations, as they were believed to be 麒麟
Ivory/Horns | Spices | Precious Woods |
Textiles & Bild plumes | Gems | Pearls |
Incense / herbs | Medicines | Sulfur& Metals |
Militarized Voyages
Militarized voyages were also conducted to clear out pirates, intervine in civil wars, and to welcome and return ambassadors of foreign countries
Trade Spreads Ideas & Technology
Chinese | Other |
Paper | Indian/Arabic Numerals |
Gunpowder | Cartography (Babylonia) |
Compass | Windmills (Persia) |
Lateen sails/ rudders | |
Astrolabe |
