Description
During the early 1400’s, the Ming-Dynasty Emperor Zhu Di commissioned the construction of a large fleet of nine-masted treasure ships to explore the world and collect tribute from the “barbarians beyond the seas.” The Chinese of this time were the best shipwrights, mariners, and navigators on Earth. Four fleets under the direction of chief admiral Zheng He explored and mapped the maritime world. They discovered The New World and Australia and colonized these areas. However, when the fleets returned to China, instead of being greeted as heroes the mariners were dismissed, the ships left to rot, and the records of the discoveries were burned. Why? Learn how and why China became an isolate rather than the premier world power of this time.
