Maritime Explorations in the 15th Century: Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Zheng He

🌍 This video compares and contrasts the mariners Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Zheng He in the 15th century.

🚢 Zheng He was a Muslim admiral and a renowned sailor in the 15th century.

💰 The Indian Ocean trade, controlled by Muslim merchants, made many people wealthy.

🗺️ Zheng He led a series of voyages across the Indian Ocean in the 15th century.

⛵ His fleet consisted of over 300 enormous ships and a crew of more than 27,000 people.

💰 Zheng He's expeditions were primarily for trade, showcasing China's dominance as a manufacturing hub.

🚢 Chinese mariners like Zheng He embarked on treasure voyages to trade with China and bring unique items.

🧭 These voyages were part of China's maritime technology advancement and their desire to control trade in the Pacific Ocean.

🌍 The end of these voyages was influenced by factors such as Zheng He's death, lack of interest from later emperors, and the construction of the Great Wall.

🌍 Portuguese mariners gained a competitive advantage in exploration through new maritime knowledge and maps.

⛵ Vasco da Gama was the first to reach Africa and the Indian Ocean, establishing trade routes and encountering wealthy trading ports.

💣 The Portuguese used powerful ships and cannons to control coastal cities and dominate the trade after the empires in the region.

🏴‍☠️ Portuguese ships targeted other vessels and forced them to obtain permits for trade, thus exerting control through extortion.

🌍 Columbus used Islamic knowledge and maps to navigate, but underestimated the size of the Earth.

🧭 Columbus believed he had reached East India but actually arrived in Indonesia.

⛵ Columbus relied on a navigation method called dead reckoning, facing unknown waters.

🌍 Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Zheng He were famous 15th-century mariners.

⛵ Columbus's first voyage was small, landing intentionally on a small Caribbean island.

💰 Columbus failed to find wealth, but his journeys had a significant negative impact on the native people.

🌍 The impact of Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Zheng He's voyages on the world.

⚓ Exploring the characteristics of effective leaders and mariners like Zitk'k Hé, Diogo Gama, and Columbus.

📚 The complexity and fame of Columbus as a holder of a rich heritage.