When China Ruled the Seas

For nearly three decades in the early 15th century China was the most powerful force in the world. They had fine artisans who crafted the most beautiful, delicate porcelains and silks in the known world. They had the technologies of firepower, astronomy, and oceanic navigation. They had the belief that they were the center of the world, the “Middle Kingdom,” and that the Son of Heaven ruled them. But most importantly, they had the means …

…left marks on everyone. Cultures all throughout the Indian Ocean were slightly but perceptively changed because of the treasure fleet. However, it was not a hugely significant part of history. The time directly before and directly after the reign of Zhu Di and his fleet of treasure ships is nearly identical in terms of foreign policy and trade; the three decades of explosive expansion of China seemed to have come and gone without much notice.