Chinese maritime expeditions preceded European exploration of the Indian Ocean and Africa

Evidence

C. A. Curwen records: “In the third year of [Yung Lo’s] reign (1405) began that remarkable series of seven maritime expeditions which rank among the great feats of seamanship of all time. They were commanded by a Chinese Muslim, a court eunuch called Cheng Ho. On the first voyage his fleet consisted of sixty-three ships, constructed with watertight compartments, the largest of which are said to have been over 400 feet long and 180 feet wide, with four decks. The total complement was 27,560, including troops, officials, and officers, and 180 doctors. This expedition reached India. In subsequent voyages Cheng Ho’s ships visited more than thirty countries in the Indian Ocean and archipelago, the Persian Gulf, Aden, and the east coast of Africa.” — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1818

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the Ming treasure fleets - a known counterpoint in debates about why China did not pursue colonial expansion, discussed directly in fn 28.
• SHARE: A naval-history or world-systems friend would enjoy the scale detail: 27,560 crew, 180 doctors, 63 ships with watertight compartments.