Pallop Wilairat
Helms Middle School, San Pablo (ORIAS Summer Institute 1999)

Should China End the Treasure Ship Voyages?
Adapted from a Lesson by Jean Johnson, New York Univesity

Introduction

During the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese government sent out fleets of sailing ships into the Indian Ocean--some going  as far as the east coast of Africa and the Red Sea.  Some ships, "Treasure Ships," were four hundred feet long, over four times the size of Christopher Columbus' flagship Santa Maria.  These voyages took place from 1405 to 1444, about 80 years before Columbus' voyages.

This lesson can be taught in conjuction with the chapter on the Ming Dynasty and Zheng He (Cheng Ho)  in the Houghton Miffin text Across the Centuries.

In the first part of this lesson, students will research the Chinese Commander Zheng He (Cheng Ho) on the Internet using various search engines.  In the second part of this lesson, students will trace these voyages on a map with names of cities and countries as used in the 15th century.  Then they will trace the routes on a modern map and compare the two.  In the third and final part of this lesson, students will take the role of advisors to the Emperor and debate whether China should end these voyages.

Materials downloaded from Jean Johnson's on-line lesson plan
 

Procedure: Part 1 (Megasearch on the Internet)

Divide students into groups and assign a different search engine for each group.  Using the search engine, have each group research the Internet for information about Zheng He (Cheng Ho), the Chinese official and commander of these voyages.  Each group should present its findings to the class.


Procedure: Part 2 (Geography)
 

  1. Give each student a copy of Timeline: A Chronology of the Ming Voyages and Map of Indian Ocean With Important Ports of the 15th Century.  Have students trace the seven voyages with seven different colored pencils and make a key.
  1. Give each student a copy of Political Map of South Asia and have them trace the routes of the seven voyages as above.
  1. Compare and discuss the differences between the two maps.


(Student can also be divided into seven groups.  Give each group an overhead transparency of Map of Indian Ocean With Important Ports of the 15th Century.  Each group should trace the route of one of the seven voyages on the transparency and present it to the class.)

Procedure: Part 3 (Debate/Role-Play)
 

  1. Divide students into three groups of advisors to the Chinese Emperor to debate the question "Should China end the treasure ship voyages?" One group should argue for ending the voyages.  The second group should argue for continuing them.  The third group should  be undecided.
  1. Give the respective Information for Advisors to the first two groups, who will prepare arguments for a debate at a following class meeting.  The undecided group will prepare questions to ask during the debate.
  1. Students debate the question, with each side giving their arguments and the undecided group having an opportunity to ask questions at the end.  The undecided group should take notes and write a summary of the arguments to be given to the Emperor (teacher).
  1. Each advisor (student) should write his or her opinion giving reasons why China should end or continue the treasure ship voyages.  This is the Emperor's (teacher's) assessment of the advisors (students).
  1. The Emperor (teacher) makes a decision based on opinions and arguments of the advisors.  Compare this decision with what actually happened in China.


Sources

Jean Johnson.  Should the Ming End the Treasure Ship Voyages? http://www.askasia.org/frame.cgi?page=/frclasrm/lessplan/l000069.htm
Frederic Wakeman, Jr. "Voyages", The American Historical Review, Vol.98, Number1, February 1993.
The Great Chinese mariner Zheng He www.mingpei.com.cn/chengho.html