Chinese and European Exploration – Flashcards

What is China's culture of complacency?

Economic reasons for Chinese exploration:

Political reasons for Chinese exploration:

Social reasons for Chinese exploration:

What are the differences between Zheng He and Columbus' armada?

Asia's retreat into relative isolation after the expeditions of Zheng He amounted to a catastrophic missed opportunity, one that laid the groundwork for the rise of Europe and the West.

1. The Chinese government had an inadequate system for collecting taxes. The spending of Yung-Lo's government greatly exceeded the tax revenue that could be collected. Debt is occurring because Yung-Lo is building a massive fleet of ships. 2. Northern nomads like the Mongols threatened China's security. They needed to fund the Great Wall instead 3. Neo-Confucian scholars held many important government posts. Neo-Confucian philosophy advocated the suppression of desire for worldly things. Trade was held in contempt. Particularly after Yung-Lo's death, the influence of the Neo-Confucian scholars grew. 4. The Chinese believed that each person had a duty to care regularly for the tombs of his ancestors. 5. Most Chinese believed that their civilization was superior to all others, that foreign goods were inferior to Chinese goods, and that there was little to be learned from foreigners.

What regions did Zheng He visit?

Country that pays tribute in the form of gifts (valuables) to another empire as acknowledgement of that nation's control or as payment for protection

Castrated males who worked in China's royal court, as high ranking government officials, military leaders and ordinary servants (especially in harems).

Low bow expressing respect and submission to the Chinese emperor

Chinese believed that China was the "Middle Kingdom" located between the Heavens and the Earth. They were above all earthly kingdoms.

Based on Confucianism, but with major revisions. What was practiced by scholars during the Ming Dynasty.

Judging other cultures by the standards of one's country. "Most Chinese believed that their civilization was superior to all others, that foreign goods were inferior to Chinese goods, and that there was little to be learned from foreigners."

Facilitated trade among E. Africa, Persian Gulf, India, S.E. Asia and China. Zheng He traded in this region.

Chinese Dynasty that drove the Mongols out of China. Ruled China from 1368-1644.

A eunuch of Muslim descent, led seven expeditions that reached as far as Persia, Arabia, and eastern Africa. The fleet grew to 62 ships and as many as 28,000 men. It was a feared fleet throughout the China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

(Ming Dynasty emperor of China known as Yongle Emperor). It was during his reign that Zheng He's voyages took place. Emperor (1403-1424) maintained China's military position and extended the empire's strength to include a powerful navy.

The 3 G's:

Economic motives for European exploration:

Political motives for European exploration:

Social motives for European exploration:

What were some hardships faced by sailors on explorations?

What is the Age of Exploration? Early 1400s-1600s

Compare and Contrast European and Chinese Exploration:

Why did Europeans benefit by using sea rather than land trading routes?

What made these explorations possible for the Europeans?

In the past used in navigation or calculating latitude

Gold, Guts, Glory

Portugal, Spain, England, France. Invest in exploration and military through more taxes. Sovereign state whose citizens are relatively homogenous in factors such as language or descent.

Added to a country's territory - opened new markets and more natural resources and wealth.

Person who enters a different culture to spread the tenets of his religion

Science of drawing maps

Fever transmitted by mosquitoes

Lack of vitamin C in diet

Lack of proper vitamins in diet

A country's economic strength depended on increasing gold supply by exporting more goods than it imports.

Control by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region.

Discovered the Pacific Ocean

Discovered the Americas. His voyages paved the way for European exploration

First to reach continental lands in Americas

Discovered first sea route to India

First to sail around the world