Louise Levathes

An in-depth look at how the voyages of the earlier Ming Ruler covered the Indian Ocean and reached the East Coast of Africa. Certainly not so sensationalist as "1421" and the following books on this theme, but factual and informative about a shining moment in exploration, and a warning of how short-term politics can permanently warp a scientific community and the life of a major Civilization.

A very readable history book, focused on the impact of China's imperial fleet in Asia and abroad, but also telling the story of the Emperor's friendship with a Eunuch who had served him from childhood, and went on to be trusted with the treasure fleet, returning to China with tribute and reports of favourable negotiations.

When China Ruled the Seas is an account of a little-known chapter in history, the high era of Chinese sea-going voyages of trade and exploration. Many people are familiar with the drive to reach the ports of the Indies that drove European voyages of exploration in the late 1400s and 1500s. A similar impulse drove Chinese mariners onto the Indian Ocean decades early, leaving us with a fascinating might-have-been scenario: what if China had not left the field to the Europeans?

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Very interesting book. Seems well documented, but I would like to see a more recent book on the same topic.