Voyages of Discovery

25 Voyages of Discovery In modern times, we honour the bravery of astronauts. We look up into the sky and wonder if they will ever return from their voyage into the great unknown. It's hard to believe, but only a short while ago, our own earth was as vast and unknown as space is today. Only 500 years ago, most of the earth was unmapped. Sailing too far away from land was as dangerous then as it is today for astronauts to sail into outer space. But humans have always wanted to learn about the world, no matter what the dangers. The great Chinese explorer, Zheng He, proves this point. In 1405, at the request of the Emperor, he left China for the first of eight voyages of discovery that he made between 1405 and 1433. The fleet of ships given to Zheng for these voyages was known as the “ fleet of friendship" , for this was the purpose of his trips.

On each trip, Zheng commanded more than 20, 000 men on hundreds of ships. He sailed the South China Sea, and across the Indian Ocean to eastern Africa. In total, he visited 30 countries and began trade with them. At each port, the Chinese sailors made friendships with the local people. On one voyage to Africa, Zheng purchased some rare animals for the Emperor. He paid fair prices for a lion, a leopard, an ostrich, and a giraffe, and then brought them to the Emperor's palace. On each return visit, the locals remembered the Chinese sailors and honoured them with gifts and royal receptions. It can be said that Zheng's eight voyages of discovery were important because people learned more and more about the earth that lay beyond China's shores. Equally important, however, were the friendly diplomatic relations that were begun so long ago. In 1419, seventeen countries sent ambassadors back to China with Zheng. This was the beginning of a long friendship between China and its neighbours in South Asia and beyond to Africa.