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Why is Zheng He often referred to as the 'Chinese Columbus'?

Burley Prestwich

Well, well, well, my dear curious friend. You want to know why Zheng He is often referred to as the 'Chinese Columbus', huh? Let me tell you, this is one fascinating topic you've stumbled upon. Get ready to have your mind blown.

First, let's talk about Columbus. He is famously known for sailing the ocean blue in 1492 and 'discovering' the Americas. But did you know that before Columbus, Zheng He was already sailing the seas and exploring new lands? Yep, that's right. Zheng He was basically Columbus before Columbus.

So, who was Zheng He? He was a Chinese explorer, admiral, and diplomat who lived during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century. He was born as a Muslim in Kunyang, Yunnan, and was later castrated and became a eunuch. Don't worry, I won't go into too much detail about that part.

Zheng He was responsible for leading expeditions to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. His fleet consisted of hundreds of ships, including treasure ships that were as long as 120 meters. That's longer than a football field! His voyages were not just about exploration, but also trade and diplomacy. He brought back exotic animals, spices, and other goods that were highly sought after in China.

Now, you may be thinking, "Okay, but how is he like Columbus?" Well, both Columbus and Zheng He were explorers who sailed the seas and discovered new lands. They were both also instrumental in establishing trade routes between their respective countries and other parts of the world.

But here's the kicker - Zheng He did all of this before Columbus. He made his first voyage in 1405, more than 80 years before Columbus set sail. Zheng He's voyages were also much larger in scale, both in terms of the number of ships and the distance traveled. His expeditions reached as far west as Africa, while Columbus never made it past the Caribbean.

In conclusion, Zheng He should be remembered as the 'Chinese Columbus' not just because of his exploration, but also because of his impact on world trade and diplomacy during his time. He was a trailblazer who paved the way for future explorers and helped to connect different parts of the world. So let's give the man some credit, shall we?

I hope this little history lesson has satisfied your curiosity, my friend. And who knows, maybe you'll be the next explorer to discover something new. Just remember, always give credit where credit is due.