40 pages 1 hour read

When China Ruled the Seas

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1994

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Summary and Study Guide

Overview

When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405–1433 is a nonfiction book published in 1994 by Louise Levathes. In a narrative that predates the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Levathes examines a three-decade period in the early 15th century when China launched seven major sea voyages. Levathes holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and worked for ten years as a staff writer for National Geographic. In 1990, she was a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Chinese and American Studies at Nanjing University in China. When China Ruled the Seas was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year for 1994.

This study guide refers to the hardcover edition published in 1994 by Simon & Schuster.

Plot Summary

The focus of the book is the period in Chinese history during the Ming dynasty when sea travel was at its height. The author previews this with several chapters that establish the development of a seafaring tradition from early in Chinese history. She provides evidence that shows China likely visited the Americas long before the Europeans did and disseminated its knowledge of boat-building and navigation throughout the Pacific.

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