How Big Were the Largest 15th Century Chinese Treasure Ships and Why Were They So Massive?
Zheng He's treasure ships were a series of wooden junks built in the early 15th century during the Ming dynasty. They were commissioned by the Yongle Emperor to explore and establish diplomatic relations with Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the east coast of Africa. The largest of these ships were among the largest wooden ships ever built, dwarfing the European ships of the time.
The largest treasure ships were approximately 120 meters (400 feet) long and 50 meters (160 feet) wide, with a displacement of up to 2,500 tons. They were constructed using the carvel planking method, which involved joining planks edge-to-edge rather than overlapping them. This gave the ships greater strength and rigidity than traditional Chinese junks.
The ships were so massive because they were designed to carry a large amount of cargo and supplies. They were able to hold up to 1,000 people, including sailors, soldiers, and officials. They were also equipped with cannons, which gave them a significant advantage over the warships of other nations.
Related Questions:
- Who built the 15th century Chinese treasure ships? The Ming dynasty of China.
- What was the purpose of the treasure ships? To explore and establish diplomatic relations with other countries.
- How large were the largest treasure ships? Approximately 120 meters long and 50 meters wide.
- How were the treasure ships constructed? Using the carvel planking method.
- Why were the treasure ships so massive? To carry a large amount of cargo and supplies.
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