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EXPLAINED

Ming China Trades with East Africa

By LynnPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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I had recently purchased a book called: BLACK HISTORY BOOK. On page 102, it explains the trade between, China and East Africa in 1418-1433.

It mentions how the unification of China and the Arab conquest of North Africa led to the formation of the powerful Chinese and Caliphate (Islamic) empires in the 7th and 8th centuries, with the elite classes seeking their authority by showing off expensive, exotic items. Which led to the demand for African goods.

See the trade relationship between China and East Africa were already almost a thousand years old. So, by the 9th and 10th centuries, both were part of a global trade network that included North Africa, Arabia, and India. East African traders sourced items such as ivory from further inland, which they then exchanged, usually with Arab merchants, for porcelain and other luxuries from China.

But this trade network did carried disease. In 1346, the bubonic plague devastated much of the world, and trade declined. But China-Africa was revived in the 15th century by the emperor, Yongle. Wanting to demonstrate China's power and satisfy the country demand for exotic goods, he commissioned a series of voyages to the Western Oceans. He put Admiral Zheng He, in charge.

Voyages of Zheng He

"Chinese explorers, led by Zheng He, reach East Africa"

The explorers do not seek to settle, dominate, or even exploit East African societies, but trade with them as equals.

Zheng He's voyages are missions of commerce, not conquest.

Zheng He

ZHENG HE'S VOYAGES

During his first first four naval expeditions from the years 1405-1415, Zheng traveled around Southeast Asia, India, and Arabia. In 1415, when Zheng returned home to China after his fourth voyage, he brought a giraffe from the King of Bengal, who had himself received it from the Sultan of Malindi, which is now part of Kenya. The giraffe resembled a lucky, mythical Chinese creature called the Qulin, which caused wonder in China.

Zheng embarked on his fifth voyage in 141, partly to obtain more giraffes. He reached East Africa in 1418 and visited Mogadishu, Brava (both in modern-day Somalia) and Malindi. His "impressive fleet" consisted of 317 ships, 62 of those ships were treasure ships loaded with precious gifts from China.

Prized Chinese wares such as silk and porcelain, were exchanged for local goods such as animal skins, tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns. African ambassadors accompanied Zheng on his return to China, bringing with them gifts like ivory, zebras, lions, and giraffes. On Zheng's sixth voyage in 1421-1422, the African ambassadors were taken home.

Zheng returned to China, but part of his fleet traveled further down the East coast, as far as modern-day Mozambique.

In the winter of 1431, Zheng set out his last voyage. His fleet visited at least 17 different ports between Champa (Today's Vietnam) and Kenya. In 1433, Zheng died in Calicut, India.

East African Society

The beauty, rarity and high price of Chinese ceramics made them status symbols. From the 13th century, they became popular with African Elites who, to show off their wealth, used them at banquets, or to decorate their tombs. Medieval China-East Africa trade helped make East African societies wealthier but also more hierarchical.

This makes you wonder about more about our African culture. This makes you wonder where and AMBW relationships developed. Knowing that the fortunes to be made from the importation and sale of luxury materials and artifacts stimulated the growth of classes such as craftworkers and merchants. (WOW. I am glad that I bought this book.)

After Zheng He died, The Chinese didn't maintain a trade relationship with East Africa. However, archaeological evidence of their connection to the region, including Ming porcelain and coins from Yongle's reign, is still being unearthed.

Historical
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About the Creator

Lynn

I'm a writer. I write fanfiction, screenplays, and novels. I also watch anime and also listen to K-Pop. I also write for hire. I tend to daydream alot which is probably one of my secrets to writing.

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