When China Ruled the Seas, by Louise Levathes, is a book that describes China during one of its finest times. During this period, roughly from 1405-133, China reached its pinnacle of power. This power was derived from the immense naval force China commanded. The Chinese navy controlled over 300 ships, some measuring as much as 400 feet long and 160 feet wide, and crews sometimes numbering over 28,000 strong. China was a force that none could match. China's sphere of influence stretched throughout half of the world and could have been more if the emperor had wanted. However, this glory could not last and soon the power of China was diminishing. With the passing of the torch between rulers, came new ideals and rules. China became more isolated and less of a world power. With its rule over the sea gone, so was its rule over trade. China's people watched as its period of expansion and trade turned into a time of isolation.
Levathes describes this all in a truly great and lively fashion. This book was a good read and recommended for those who want to learn about China's proudest time.
It's intersting to see how China became a world power and a force with such immense influence on the countries around despite the fact that the country refused mairnetime trade with almost all all nations especially those European nations.
I too read about the struggles of China with trades. It's interesting to me to read about how a few centuries earlier China was in it's prime power unlike my book when China was in the 19th century it submissed itself into drugs.
It's intersting to see how China became a world power and a force with such immense influence on the countries around despite the fact that the country refused mairnetime trade with almost all all nations especially those European nations.
ReplyDelete- Vlad Putin
I too read about the struggles of China with trades. It's interesting to me to read about how a few centuries earlier China was in it's prime power unlike my book when China was in the 19th century it submissed itself into drugs.
ReplyDelete-Lady GaGa
My book mentioned how European dominance is relatively recent, so it's interesting to learn how powerful China once was.
ReplyDelete~Mohammed
It is very interesting to learn about how strong China was as an international power, and then lost it all to Europe in the 17th Century.
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