You be the Historian: Could China of Discovered America First? SOURCE A The map, which shows North and South America, claims to be a 1763 copy of another map made in Chinese characters written beside the map say it was drawn by Mo Yi Tong and copied from a map made in the 16th year of the Emperor Yongle, or It clearly shows Africa, North America, South America and Australia. Under the Emperor Zhu Di (ruled in the early 1400s), the Chinese fleet consisted of some 3,800 ships. In addition there were more than 250 long-distance ‘Treasure ships’, the largest vessel holding 1,000 people. China's 15th-century "treasure junks" would have dwarfed European vessels of the time. Each treasure ship contained 9 masts, 12 enormous red sails, and measured some 400 Feet (the size of an aircraft carrier). The Chinese fleet, under Zheng He, varied from 48 to 317 ships and was manned with over 28,000 men. Treasure Ship compared to the Columbus vessel SOURCE B AFRICA ASIA NORTH AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA

Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim who was captured as a child and made to serve the Chinese court. He eventually became a scholar and advisor to Emperor Zhu Di who sent him on a large mission to the ends of the Earth to collect tribute. He commanded seven expeditions between 1405 and 1430, and sailed from China to the west where he has definitely been known to reach as far as the Cape of Good Hope. Altogether, Zheng He visited thirty nations, traveling more than 35,000 miles. SOURCE C The Chinese did have the capability for navigation. By the first century, historians say, the Chinese had some knowledge of the winds and currents of the Pacific. When weather prevented the Chinese from navigating by the sky they mariners used magnetized needles to guide them. Because the sailors had no level surface on their rocking ship, they floated the needle in a shallow bowl of water, and the compass that guides explorers to this day was born. SOURCE D SOURCE E Items found by European explorers that could have been from Asia: Bananas and rice plantations were reportedly seen in Carved stones are claimed to be in Asian writing found Artifacts such as Chinese porcelain and Chinese jade found The finding of a Chinese ships anchor on the coast of California A Chinese hen found by European explorers Chinese and Native Americans from the period have similar carvings (  ) Chinese and Native Americans from the period have similar letters Native American Letters v. Chinese Letters

“Location of Unidentified Wrecks”: Historians have called them “unidentifiable”. These wrecks directly correspond with the most likely route of the Chinese Ships that could of sailed in the Caribbean. Today, scientists guess the length of ships’ hauls range from feet. SOURCE F SOURCE H Why did it end? Where are the logs? A new Ming emperor had come to the throne. His scholar and officials criticized Zheng's achievements, complaining about their great expense. China was now fighting another enemy on its western borders and needed to devote its resources to that struggle. When a court favorite wanted to continue Zheng He's voyages, he was turned down. To make sure, the court officials destroyed the logs that Zheng He had kept. We know about his voyages only from the pillar and some accounts that his crew members wrote. This is a three storey tower in Rhode Island. Some historian believe this represents a remains of the Chinese colony. By using carbon dating, the stone structure comes from as early as In addition, the mortar that holds the stone together is made of crushed shells; similar to the materials used in the Great Wall of China. Some historians argue this served a observation point which 1)distinguished the location as a Chinese settlement 2) served as a lighthouse. SOURCE G