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Zheng He led all of Yonglo's seven voyages of exploration. The voyages ranged from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa. The distances traveled, fleet size, and ship measurement were all large. 40 to 300 different ships sailed in each of the seven expeditions. Over 27,000 sailors, soldiers, carpenters, interpreters, accountants, doctors, and religious leaders were part of the fleet's crew. Zheng He would distribute gifts everywhere he went to show Chinese superiority.
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Prince Henry, aka "Henry the Navigator" was the son of Portugal's king. He was the nation's most enthusiastic supporter of exploration. He was consumed by the quest to find new lands and to spread Christianity. Prince Henry organized more than 14 voyages along the western coast or Africa. As a result, he died in debt.
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After Zheng He's seventh voyage, China withdrew into isolation. It was because of China's official trade policies that they kept the influence of outsiders to a minimum. Only the government was to conduct foreign trade and through 3 coastal ports. Industries such as silk-making and ceramics grew rapidly while manufacturing and commerce also increased because of the high demand for Chinese goods.
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In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian sea captain, discovered America. His plan was to find a route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. He reached an island called the Caribbean thinking it was the East Indies. The Portuguese believed that Columbus had reached Asia.
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In 1492, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas. Before that, Spain and Portugal's rivalry grew tense. Pope Alexander VI suggested an imaginary dividing line north to south, through the Atlantic Ocean. Spain would own the west of the line (Line of Demarcation). Portugal would own the east of the line. The line was moved farther west when Portugal complained that it was unfair. With the treaty, they agreed to honor the line.
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In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut in India. He was amazed by the spices, rare silks, and precious gems that filled Calicut's shops and him and his crew fiilled their ship with spices. Their cargo was worth 60 times the cost of the voyage. His voyage of 27,000 miles had given Portugal a direct sea route to India.
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Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of Hideyoshi's strongest daimyo allies. He competed the unification of Japan. Ieyasu also defeated his rivals at the Battle of Sekigahara. His victory earned him the loyalty of daimyo throughout Japan. Three years later in 1603, he became the sole ruler, or shogun. He moved Japan's capital to his power base at Edo (Tokyo).
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The Manchus were the people of the region of Manchuria, northeast of the Great Wall. The Manchus invaded China and the Ming Dynasty collapsed. Their leader became China's new emporor. The Manchus took a Chinese name and named their dynasty the Qing Dynasty. They ruled for more than 260 years and expanded China's boarders.
