Customer Reviews

When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is an entertaining look at the voyages of Zheng Ho, a eunuch in the service of the Ming Emperor of China, in the fifteenth century C.E. China's navy was then the most powerful in the world, and Levathes helps us recognize this with some skillfully drawn comparisons between Zheng Ho's treasure ships (the largest wooden vessels ever built) and the puny Santa Maria. China was unquestionably the most advanced civilization in the world during Zheng Ho's time, and had the voyages been allowed to continue, resulting in permanent Chinese influence on and control of the Indian Ocean, Africa, and possibly America and Europe, our world today would be very different indeed. Levathes does a good job of explaining why Ming China decided to stop the voyages and its international trade, and points out that while Westerners tend to see this as a failure, to the Chinese at the time it seemed a success. This is probably the most valuable insight of the book, the illustration of a very wide gap between the psychological makeup of East and West.

While the West was still dragging itself out of the Dark Ages, China had a thriving sea trade with India and Africa, and arguably with places as far off as South America and Australia, not to be beaten for hundreds of years.

There is an incredible amount of history here, most of it unknown in the West, which sets the scene for the building of a massive trading fleet by the eunuch Admiral Zheng He, and his subsequent voyages of exploration. At least one type of ship was 400 feet long, at the time when Columbus's ships were under 100 - about 50 times the capacity.

So what went wrong? What could stop such a powerful naval nation in its tracks? An Imperial Decree - forbidding sea voyages, considering them unproductive, uneconomic and, more importantly, un-Confucian - effectively shut the door on Chinese expansion and fostered the introversion that has only ceased in the last few years.

Ms.Levathes has uncovered information hidden for years to present this highly informative and unusual subject in a very accessible form, although I did find the similarity of the Chinese names slightly confusing, which made for heavy reading at times. However, it still gets *****.

While reading the book When China Ruled the Seas by Louise Levathes, I realized that my own knowledge of China has been slighted. This book chronicles the voyages of the Chinese people on the seas from the 7th century through the 15th century AD. Learning of the great naval feats and amazing voyages made by these competent sea-farers gives the reader a new perspective on the way the world could be today had China not scrapped their maritime industry. The book focuses much on the early 15th century AD. At a time when Europe was struggling to leave the Middle Ages behind them, the Chinese emperor was quickly building a large fleet of sea-worthy ships. The emperor Zhu Di commissioned his eunuch Zheng He to lead voyages reaching from India to Southeast Asia and from the Middle east to the Eastern Coast of Africa. This was a phenomenal accomplishment for humans in this period of time. By contrast the European countries didn't reach some of these places by boat until upwards of 300 years later. European ships were inferior to the European models, being less than ¼ the size of the large Chinese junks. Zheng He made seven voyages in all to various parts of the "Eastern" world. These voyages were made to collect tribute paid to the "Son of Heaven," the Chinese Emperor. By the height of China's maritime dominance, the dragon throne had built or refitted 1,681 ships. In 1433 Zheng He died, and the Emperor died as well. China's interests grew increasingly inward. Just a short 100 years after the great expeditions of Zheng He, it was a capital offense to trade abroad, or even to build ships worthy of sailing at sea. The book emphasizes that as China moved closer to the 19th century, and the Western world began its imperialism, China was kicked out of its position of World power. China still struggles today to regain the authority it feels it deserves. Great lengths were made to be historically accurate in this book. The author goes to great length to document and Index the events in the book. However, some critics of the book note that the author is hardly definitive in her effort to cover the topic of maritime China. No attention was paid to the detail of shipbuilding. The author does, however, use almost ten percent of the book to include notes, and full versions of some documents summarized in the book. Because the records of the Zheng He expeditions are lengthy, this book attempts to combine the accounts in one straightforward account. Ms. Levathes tells the story in an animated way, making the learning of this history an enjoyable one. However, When China Ruled the Seas poses some serious questions. After making my oral presentation on the book, the questions asked of me by the class and instructor were hard to answer. Why did these boats travel to the west? Why didn't the expeditions start earlier than the 15th century? Why did the expeditions end? In reading this book, one can speculate what the answers may be, but cannot find much discussion on these topics. In a way Ms. Levathes leaves these questions naked, and the reader wondering.

In the beginning of the book Ms. Levathes names various motives for these voyages to take place. By the end of the book, these motives are not re-evaluated, and again the reader is left to his or her own discernment on the matter. Furthermore, she doesn't evaluate how these motives may have changed over the twenty-eight years over which they occurred. Readers also learn little about navigational methods that were used, an integral part of ocean-travel. The seasons would have affected the fleet and its voyages, and would determine how far these fleets could have, and would have traveled in each season. Reading this book from the Western viewpoint helps readers to understand China as it was when it was a major world power. Those from a Western tend to think of China as a backward country discovered and tamed by the civilized West. This book proves the opposite, and is effective in its approach to destroy old stereotypes. Many critics feel that the book lacks organization. I felt at times that the book was jumpy. Even though I learned a great deal from the book through illustrations, stories, and descriptions of the many ports visited by Zheng He on his expeditions, I have doubts of the importance of a text like this to a scholar. It seems that the book is more aimed towards the undergraduate who is beginning to learn about the inner workings of this ancient society and its reasons for a sudden boost in its maritime industry. Compared to other histories I have read, this history has been one of the easiest to read. I was pleased with the stories and narratives provided by the author, and the translators. Compared to other interpretations of a history of this subject, this book may be inferior, but has its place in curriculum in university studies. In pondering the superiority of Chinese ships and sea travel in the 15th century, I wonder how different the world would be if China would have discovered the American Continent from the east. Had the Chinese Empire maintained their maritime endeavors they may have. The fact that they may have discovered South America in the 7th century AD is quite possible. Learning about China's success in trading and travel has opened my mind to new ideas and concepts. Most interesting to me was the mention of Chinese influence in South America. The possibility of travel between the great Eastern Continent, and the great Western continents is intriguing to me. As I continue to learn more about the traditions of ancient civilizations, I understand the modern philosophies they presently maintain. China has come alive for me through reading this book, and the other texts I read in this class. Examples from the past are opening my mind to other viewpoints, and helping me understand new cultures, ideas and concepts.

I bought this book to read after I finished Menzie's wonderful study of the Chinese exploration of the world's oceans and I have not been disappointed. I don't know why other commentators are so hard on this book-its not as if we are bombarded by books dealing with the subject of Chinese maritime history and can afford to be snooty about our perceptions of the author's outcomes. As someone with a modest background in Chinese history I thought that Levathes completed a much needed examination about a subject that doesn't sit comfortably with many self proclaimed intellectuals who don't like to have their comfortable conceptions about the organization of world history upset by a new history that challenges their comfortable mind-set.

I believe there is an all too apparent racial motive working in some commentaries regarding the immensity of the entire topic of Chinese maritime history. As Levathes describes so well the Chinese, back as far as the Han Dynasty, were sailing ships far larger to far more distant destinations than anything matched by the Europeans for centuries and yet the general Western reader fumbles in the dark for any information that counters the West's disinformation.

What is going on? I live on the west coast of Australia and here in Fremantle a replica of Cook's Endeavour was built some years ago and more recently a replica of the Duyfken or Little Dove, the first European ship to chart a portion of the Australian continent was completed. But was there even a hint in any of the local or national news at the time that the English and the Dutch were simply sailing in the path of decades of previous Chinese occupation-of course not!

Levathes final chapter recounts numerous examples of Chinese presence in the Northern Territory long before the Duyfken and Cook's south eastern exploration. Many readers seem to nit-pic this book as well as the Menzie's book to death rather than dealing with the extraordinary ramifications of the import of each book's substance-we're left with a few niggling little bits of argument that simply detract from the greater story being told.

If you have even a passing interest in Chinese history then you owe it to yourself to read this wonderful, enlightening examination of Chinese maritime history and it's impack throughout Asia and beyond.

... but that is part of its purpose.

Levathes has written a short and quaint work on a fascinating episode in history, the voyage of Cheng Ho and the Chinese Treasure Fleet. In the early fifteenth century, during the Ming Dynasty, Cheng Ho led a massive fleet of gargantuan ships on several voyages to the East Indies, Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and East Africa. Levanthes tells us the story of these voyages and the political circumstances that led to them and to their sudden cessation.

When China Ruled the Seas, though, is in no way comprehensive. Nothing is mentioned about the nagivation, sailing techniques, or cartography that made these voyages possible. Most of the points that Levathes makes about the reason for the voyages are never fully concluded, while much of the background on Chinese sailing before Cheng Ho is superfluous.

But, the lack of these important elements results not in disappointment, but a yearning to know more. Given the short length of the book, it is certain that Levathes had this purpose in mind while "teasing" us with this book.

When China Ruled the Seas is a wonderful story that can be enjoyed on its own, but also makes a great starting point for anyone interested in Chinese history.

The book is an interesting one, compact but full of information. The first few chapters are actually dedicated to a brief overview of early Chinese political history. It discusses the ethnic mix of the country, the rise of a centralized state, the struggle among early dynasts for control of power, and ultimately the central characters involved in overseas exploration.

Unlike Menzies' 1421 A. D., Levathes' book focuses on China's rapport with countries closer at hand, concentrating on routes between China and SE Asia, India, and Africa. There is no attempt to integrate archaeological finds throughout the world with what is known of Chinese exploration activities, which leaves the author on much firmer ground from a historical standpoint. For most of her documentation she relies on government records, family histories, historical romances, and poetry, and these are outlined and discussed in some detail in the notes to the chapters. Although she speculates about early contact with North and South America, she does not make this the central focus of the book. In fact her primary theme seems to be the social and political causes of the sudden interest in the outside world and its equally sudden reversal.

While Menzies' book is more intriguing and examines the Chinese experiment with overseas exploration from the standpoint of a seaman and navigator, Levathes approaches it as a historian. 1421 A. D. gives one a sense of the wonder of exploration and its possibilities; When China Ruled the Seas makes sense of both its occurrence and its cessation. I'd recommend reading both.

Louise Levathes' popular history WHEN CHINA RULED THE SEAS is an excellent book, whose star is naturally Zheng He. Although she avoids Gavin Menzies' fantastic theory that he reached the Americas, she demonstrates very well the greatness of his accomplishments as admiral of the Ming fleet, despite the fact that he had grown up with a handicap which fortunately few suffer from today: at a very early age he had been castrated. Zheng He seems to symbolize in his person and his achievements the potential for "Third World" unity. He was both a Chinese and a Muslim; and his voyages brought China, Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and Africa together in a vast network of trade, on the eve of European "discovery" of this world. One can only speculate about how strong an alliance against European colonialism could have been forged had the Yong Le Emperor (Zhu Di) not been foolish enough to squander his resources on a senseless war in Vietnam and a lavish new capital in Beijing, thus bringing all his projects, including Zheng He's missions, into disrepute with the Confucian scholar-bureacrats. Levathes' book compares favorably with Edward Dreyer's more recent and stolidly dull academic biography of Zheng He.

The author is this book has written and informed and straghtforward narrative about the 15th century and earlier Chinese treasure fleets. Her narrative is based primarily upon Chinese sources. Unlike Menzies (1421: The Year China Discovered America)the author does not make use of European maps of the 15th century and later which Menzies thinks gives accurate and detailed information of Chinese voyages to the Americas and the two poles which pre-date Columbus and other European explorers. In this book, claims for Chinese "discoveries" and trade are limited to Southeast Asia, East Africa, and possibly Australia.

Unlike the book "1421," Levathes's book sticks with the known facts and provides more details about the Treasure Fleet and Ming China. Levathes did a lot of research and makes a compelling presentation, ending the book with an extensive notes and bibliography section. The text is interspersed with illustrations and photos. It's too bad this book is so hard to find in bookstores and libraries. Get it from Amazon and then donate it to your library (if you can give it up)!

China --- both the modern state and especially its imperial predecessor --- is usually portrayed as being isolationist, looking inward, shunning contact with other lands. There is undoubtedly a great deal of accuracy in that view. But China also has a tradition of seafaring and exploration of the outside world that goes back at least 4000 years. These two opposing philosophies --- on the one hand, the Confucian attitude of keeping China self-sufficient and isolated; on the other a desire to reach out for trade, profit, or mere curiosity --- have sometimes clashed throughout Chinese history.

Louise Levathes' book When China Ruled the Seas documents one such clash. Shortly after Emperor Zhu Di seized the throne from his young nephew, he ordered the construction of a vast ocean-going fleet. Possibly rumors that the previous emperor had fled abroad --- his body was never identified with certainty --- motivated a search of neighboring lands. Perhaps too Zhu Di felt the need to announce to his neighbors that he had ascended the Dragon Throne. But probably the major reason for construction of the enormous fleet was trade. After years of civil war, China's treasury was depleted and her economy was in shambles. Nothing would revive things like an influx of tribute from China's nominal vassal states.

So orders went out all over China for the construction of over 1,600 vessels of all types. Most impressive of all were four Treasure Ships, each over 400 feet long and 160 feet wide, designed to carry Chinese products overseas for trade, and to bring back foreign goods in return. Between 1405 and 1433 the "Treasure Fleet" --- usually under command of the eunuch Zhang He --- made seven trips to various ports of call in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Not only was contact re-established with China's traditional vassals in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Siam, and Indonesia, but the Treasure Fleet also reached India, and ultimately went as far as the Persian Gulf, the Arabian peninsula, and East Africa. Levathes even speculates that Chinese ships touched on Australia.

Within a decade China was at the height of its influence, and had become the most advanced sea power at the time. But wealth from the foreign trade went mainly to the imperial court. For the common people the Treasure Fleet brought higher taxes and demanding officials seeking supplies for the fleet. By the last years of Zhu Di's reign China was beset with poor harvests, famine and epidemics at home and rebellion abroad. The emperor began to rethink his extravagant policies and ordered cutbacks in trade and government expenditures. The days of Chinese ascendancy on the seas had passed. The Treasure Fleet was allowed to decay, Zhang He's logs were destroyed, and by 1500 it was a capital crime to build ocean-going vessels. This led to a decline in Chinese technology in general, so that eventually the West surpassed China, and the Middle Kingdom was relegated to the status of a third-class nation.

How different the world today would be if history had taken another course; if the Chinese had discovered America from the East. This might have been possible had the Treasure Fleet been maintained rather than mothballed.