Question

Use the excerpts below to answer the follo

The Voyages of Zheng He A Chinese Muslim admiral named Zheng He (jung
huh) led all of the seven voyages. His expeditions were remarkable for their size.
Everything about them was large-distances traveled, fleet size, and ship mea-
surements. The voyages ranged from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa. From 40 to
300 ships sailed in each expedition. Among them were fighting ships, storage ves-
sels, and huge "treasure" ships measuring more than 400 feet long. The fleet's
crews numbered over 27,000 on some voyages. They included sailors, sol-
diers, carpenters, interpreters, accountants, doctors, and religious leaders. Like
a huge floating city, the fleet sailed from port to port along the Indian Ocean.
Everywhere Zheng He went, he distributed gifts including silver and silk to show
Chinese superiority. Major ideas in mathematics, science, and technology, which
had developed in China over the centuries, probably traveled and diffused with the
voyages. As a result, more than 16 countries sent tribute to the Ming court. Even so,
Chinese scholar-officials complained that the voyages wasted valuable resources that
could be used to defend against barbarians' attacks on the northern frontier. After the
seventh voyage, in 1433, China withdrew into isolation. A
Ming Relations with Foreign Countries China's official trade policies in the 1500s
reflected its isolation. To keep the influence of outsiders to a minimum, only the
government was to conduct foreign trade, and only through three coastal ports,
Canton, Macao, and Ningbo. In reality, trade flourished up and down the coast.
Profit-minded merchants smuggled cargoes of silk, porcelain, and other valuable
goods out of the country into the eager hands of European merchants. Usually,
Europeans paid for purchases with silver, much of it from mines in the Americas.
1. How did Zheng He help facilitate trade during Ming China?
2. What are some items that were used for trade?
3. How did silver influence global trade?

Answer 1

1. **How did Zheng He help facilitate trade during Ming China?**

- Zheng He facilitated trade during Ming China through his extensive voyages. His expeditions covered vast distances, from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa, establishing maritime connections and trade routes. The large fleet, consisting of up to 300 ships, engaged in diplomatic and economic interactions with various regions along the Indian Ocean. Zheng He distributed gifts, including silver and silk, showcasing Chinese wealth and power, and promoting the idea of Chinese superiority. These voyages played a role in fostering trade relationships and cultural exchanges with other countries.

2. **What are some items that were used for trade?**

- The excerpts mention that valuable goods such as silver, silk, porcelain, and other commodities were used for trade during the Ming Dynasty. Zheng He distributed gifts of silver and silk during his voyages to showcase Chinese superiority and establish diplomatic relations. Additionally, profit-minded merchants engaged in smuggling cargoes of silk and porcelain out of China, contributing to trade flourishing along the coast. These goods were highly sought after by European merchants, who often paid for their purchases with silver, much of which came from mines in the Americas.

3. **How did silver influence global trade?**

- The mention of Europeans paying for purchases with silver, much of it from mines in the Americas, indicates the significant influence of silver on global trade during this period. The availability of silver from the Americas became a crucial factor in facilitating trade between China and Europe. Silver served as a medium of exchange, enabling European merchants to acquire valuable Chinese goods like silk and porcelain. This flow of silver contributed to economic interconnectedness between different regions, illustrating how precious metals played a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of global trade during the Ming Dynasty.

Answer 2

Zheng He facilitated trade during Ming China by leading naval expeditions, trading valuable items like porcelain, silk, and gold. Silver influenced global trade by serving as the currency of exchange between China and Europe.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Zheng He helped facilitate trade during Ming China by leading seven naval expeditions between 1405 and 1433. His fleet, consisting of thousands of ships, sailed to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa, establishing trade relationships and presenting gifts to foreign rulers to showcase the splendor of the Ming dynasty. This facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas between China and other nations.

2. Some items that were used for trade during Zheng He's expeditions included porcelain, silk, gold, ivory, spices, ointments, exotic woods, and rare plants and animals like zebras and ostriches. These valuable goods were sought after by merchants and were traded for other goods or silver.

3. Silver played a significant role in global trade during this time. European merchants, eager to acquire Chinese goods, paid for their purchases with silver, much of it obtained from mines in the Americas. Silver served as the currency of exchange and helped facilitate trade between China and Europe, linking different parts of the world economically.