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Zheng He’s Voyages to Africa in the 15th Century: The Maritime Silk and Porcelain Road

Li Xinfeng, translated by Shelly Bryant
Zheng He’s Voyages to Africa in the 15th Century: The Maritime Silk and Porcelain Road
ISBN: 978-0-7983-0538-9
$42.00
2023/362 pages
Distributed for AISA, an imprint of HSRC Press
Sorry, no ebook available

DESCRIPTION

Though it has been some six centuries since explorer Zheng He visited Africa, scholar Li Xinfeng finds connections between Zheng's voyages and China-Africa relations today.

Li discusses Zheng's travels at length, ranging from details of his ships and crews to the nature of the relationships that he forged. As he considers the explorer's legacy in the current global environment, he adds to our understanding of both China's Africa policy and its maritime strategy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Li Xinfeng is a researcher and professor in the graduate school of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

CONTENTS

  • Foreword—Cyril Ramaphosa.
  • Foreword—Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • An Analysis of the Background to Zheng He's Four Voyages to Africa.
  • Analysis of Zheng He's Voyages to Africa.
  • The Far-Reaching Significance of Zheng He's Voyages.
  • Advanced Shipbuilding Technology Employed in the Building of China's Treasure Ships.
  • The Makeup of Zheng He's Divisions and Features of His Ships.
  • Building a Replica of Zheng He's Ship and Traveling Zheng He's Path.
  • Visiting the "Chinese Village" on Pate Island in Kenya.
  • Double Dragon Jar Affirms China Connection.
  • The Influence of Influence of Zheng He's Fleet in Africa.
  • The First Arrival of the Chinese Migrants to Africa in the Early Ming Dynasty.
  • Zheng He's Voyages and Contemporary China’s Africa Policy.