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Sale

When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433 (Revised)

by Louise Levathes
Save up to 9%
When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433 (Revised) - Thryft
When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433 (Revised) - Thryft

Ancient Chinese maritime dominance unveiled.

This book would transport you back to a time of immense curiosity and ambition that characterized China's naval history. It not only fills a gap in our understanding of a period often overshadowed by European exploration but also marvels at the technological and cultural advancements that could have shaped a different world order. The narrative captures an era rich with exploration potential, reflecting a blend of ambition and eventual retreat that is both intriguing and baffling for the modern reader.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433 (Revised)

by Louise Levathes
Save up to 9%
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780195112078
Author: Louise Levathes
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date of Publication: 1997-01-09
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Travel, History
Related Topics: History, World History, Historical, Asia
Goodreads rating: 3.72
(rated by 552 readers)

Description

A hundred years before Columbus and his fellow Europeans began making their way to the New World, fleets of giant Chinese junks commanded by the eunuch admiral Zheng He and filled with the empire's finest porcelains, lacquerware, and silk ventured to the edge of the world's "four corners." It was a time of exploration and conquest, but it ended in a retrenchment so complete that less than a century later, it was a crime to go to sea in a multimasted ship. In When China Ruled the Seas, Louise Levathes takes a fascinating and unprecedented look at this dynamic period in China's enigmatic history, focusing on China's rise as a naval power that could have ruled the world and its precipitous plunge into isolation when a new emperor ascended the Dragon Throne. During the brief period from 1405 to 1433, seven epic expeditions brought China's "treasure ships" across the China Seas and the Indian Ocean, from Taiwan to the spice islands of Indonesia and the Malabar coast of India, on to the rich ports of the Persian Gulf and down the African coast, China's "El Dorado," and perhaps even to Australia, three hundred years before Captain Cook was credited with its discovery. With over 300 ships--some measuring as much as 400 feet long and
 

Ancient Chinese maritime dominance unveiled.

This book would transport you back to a time of immense curiosity and ambition that characterized China's naval history. It not only fills a gap in our understanding of a period often overshadowed by European exploration but also marvels at the technological and cultural advancements that could have shaped a different world order. The narrative captures an era rich with exploration potential, reflecting a blend of ambition and eventual retreat that is both intriguing and baffling for the modern reader.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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