When China Ruled the Seas
David
May 1, 2012
Reading and Discussion Questions:
When China Ruled the Seas by Louise Levathes
1. Why are we reading this book in this class? 0 The reason that we are reading, “When China Ruled the Seas” by Louise Levathes is in order to help us create a better understanding of the Chinese rule and how they became such a great dynasty. It helps us to see how China rose to become a great maritime power and also how it its navy disintegrated. “When China Ruled the Seas” shows us why the Chinese emperors decided to destroy its navy. It helps us learn more about China’s voyages of exploration, including how long they lasted, the reason for them, how far they extended and the impact they had on China itself and foreign countries. This book provides great details that we are not able to see in the book or in class. It gives us a closer look at China’s history and the explanation of why they isolated themselves when they were in a position of great power. This book also helps to point out China’s advancements at the time including the greatness of their treasaure fleets. 2. Why did the Yongle Emperor, the 3rd of the Ming Dynasty, authorize the treasure fleets? See for example page 73. The Yongle Emperor Zhu Di authorized the treasure fleets in order to explore the seas in search of Zhu Yunwen so that the rumors of his exile abroad could be settled. When Zhu Di took the throne his first act was to execute all officials and military officers who refused to recognize him. Included in this order of execution was former ruler Zhu Yunwen and the many Confucians who served him. However, there were many rumors that there was an emperor-monk in hiding. Some of the rumors said he was hiding out in Yunnan at a place called White Dragon Mountain. Other rumors said he went to Guangxi, and others that he fled to Fujian. One rumor said that he hung himself, another that he lived in the Gonglong Mountains and died in 1423. But one rumor said that
May 1, 2012
Reading and Discussion Questions:
When China Ruled the Seas by Louise Levathes
1. Why are we reading this book in this class? 0 The reason that we are reading, “When China Ruled the Seas” by Louise Levathes is in order to help us create a better understanding of the Chinese rule and how they became such a great dynasty. It helps us to see how China rose to become a great maritime power and also how it its navy disintegrated. “When China Ruled the Seas” shows us why the Chinese emperors decided to destroy its navy. It helps us learn more about China’s voyages of exploration, including how long they lasted, the reason for them, how far they extended and the impact they had on China itself and foreign countries. This book provides great details that we are not able to see in the book or in class. It gives us a closer look at China’s history and the explanation of why they isolated themselves when they were in a position of great power. This book also helps to point out China’s advancements at the time including the greatness of their treasaure fleets. 2. Why did the Yongle Emperor, the 3rd of the Ming Dynasty, authorize the treasure fleets? See for example page 73. The Yongle Emperor Zhu Di authorized the treasure fleets in order to explore the seas in search of Zhu Yunwen so that the rumors of his exile abroad could be settled. When Zhu Di took the throne his first act was to execute all officials and military officers who refused to recognize him. Included in this order of execution was former ruler Zhu Yunwen and the many Confucians who served him. However, there were many rumors that there was an emperor-monk in hiding. Some of the rumors said he was hiding out in Yunnan at a place called White Dragon Mountain. Other rumors said he went to Guangxi, and others that he fled to Fujian. One rumor said that he hung himself, another that he lived in the Gonglong Mountains and died in 1423. But one rumor said that