107. China's Greatest Admiral: The Story of Zheng He

Empire

Jack Davenport

History

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the 15th century, Admiral Zheng He, on the orders of the Emperor of China, embarked upon a series of extraordinary voyages of exploration. These voyages were undertaken in fleets of up to 300 colossal ships, with tens of thousands of men, at great cost to the court of the Ming dynasty. Initially they went all over South-East Asia and finished in India, but as time went on they went further afield, going to Arabia and even reaching East Africa on the seventh and final voyage. Zheng He even brought back a giraffe. China looked set to become a great maritime power, with more advanced naval technology than anywhere else in the world - but Zheng He was mysteriously called home, further voyages were cancelled and all the records of the different expeditions cancelled. Listen as William and Anita are joined by Rana Mitter to discuss Zheng He in the first instalment of the Christmas miniseries on the Ships of Empire. For bonus episodes, ad-free listening, reading lists, book discounts, a weekly newsletter, and a chat community. Sign up at https://empirepod.supportingcast.fm/ Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: [email protected] Goalhangerpodcasts.com Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Jack Davenport + Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you want access to bonus episodes reading lists for every series of empire, a chat community,
0:06.7	discounts for all the books mentioned in the week's podcast, add free listening and a weekly
0:11.5	newsletter, sign up to Empire Club at
0:14.4	W.
0:15.1	W. Empire pod UK.com. Hello and me William the Rupu.
0:35.0	Yes, and you know what?
0:36.0	This is the very first in our special mini-series over the Christmas period.
0:42.0	We're very, very proud of this little idea because...
0:44.0	Hang on, hang on, what's my idea?
0:47.0	What's my idea?
0:48.0	What's the idea?
0:49.0	Shut up, you're proud, shut up and be proud.
0:51.0	We're taking a little pause from the Persia experience because we wanted to bring you three ships of empire, three ships that have very broad and deep stories behind them which tell you about the state of the world at the time and today's
1:05.8	is a very exciting.
1:08.9	You haven't explained why you thought this was a good idea?
1:11.6	Well look there is a Christmas Carol which it has
1:13.9	become vastly apparent nobody under the age of 40 knows but we all know it's the three
1:21.1	ships I know I know Cal who is our incredibly Look completely baffled when you've told them about this.
1:23.0	Cal, who is our incredibly disgustingly young and talented producer,
1:27.5	I have no idea, just looked at us blankly.
1:29.0	But it is a Christmas cow.
1:31.0	I saw three ships come sailing by on Christmas day on Christmas day and I think I think everybody should know this
	...

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