Zheng He was a Chinese explorer who went one seven voyages of discovery from 1405 to 1433

during the Ming Dynasty. He sailed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans for his Emperor Yongle. He
lead these voyages of discovery to Calicut in India, Malindi, Mogadishu and Mombasa in Africa.
These voyages were an example of cultural diffusion. Cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural
beliefs and social activities from one group of people to another. For much of history, people did
not know much about him because they destroyed all records of the voyage.
Zheng He’s voyages were an example of the Cultural Diffusion trigger of trade. This
trigger means that you buy and sell goods and services. Sample of Tribute Offered by Foregin
at Chinese Court shows the Cultural Diffusion of trade because Zeng He is buying different
“gifts” and animals from different places and bringing them back with him. The document chart
shows the things he bought from people that were selling those things for example the animals
like horses, zebras, and garaffies.
Furthermore, his voyages were also an example of the Cultural Diffusion trigger of
Technology. This trigger means the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes,
especially in industry. Zheng He’s Fleet By the Numbers shows technology by showing how the
ship was made/ built. The picture on the document shows us how long the ship was which was
440 ft.
Additionally, his voyages were also an example of the Cultural Diffusion trigger of
Conquest. This trigger means the subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by
use of military force. The Changle Inscription shows Conquest by saying “When we arrived at
the foregin countries, barbarian kings who resisted…. We captured alive and barbarian
bandits[praits] who invaded and plundered we wiped out. Because of this the sea routes
became pure and peaceful and the foregin people could rely upon them”. The paragraph shows
us that China was always talking about taking over.
Zheng He led to a tremendous amount of cultural diffusions in the countries and areas
around the Indian and Pacific oceans. He sailed from 1405 to 1433. Zeng He might have not
had a lasting effect on world culture because much of the knowledge of his voyages was lost
due to the Chinese officials dismantling the fleet and destroying the records of all his seven
voyages.