00:00 This episode is the first in a mini-series about three ships that have significant historical stories, starting with the voyages of Zheng He during the Ming dynasty in 15th century China.

04:31 The Ming dynasty in 15th century China emerged from a rebellion against the Yuan dynasty and was characterized by a mix of Chinese and Mongol influences, and during this time, the Chinese empire was facing internal tensions and instability.

08:35 Zheng He rises to prominence in the Ming dynasty after assisting Zhu Di in overthrowing the existing emperor and taking the throne as the Yongle Emperor, and despite being a eunuch and a Muslim, he becomes an important member of the Ming dynasty court.

12:48 Zheng He is captured and castrated as a prisoner of war at the age of 11, a common practice for eunuchs who were preferred for promotion in the Ming dynasty due to their inability to have children and compete for positions within the imperial family.

16:24 Zheng He's rise to prominence is attributed to his military prowess and strategic thinking, as well as his religious eclecticism and linguistic capacity, which eventually leads him to come into contact with ships.

20:28 The Chinese emperor commissioned the ships to showcase Chinese civilization, trade, and power to parts of the world where China had not been seen with that level of power before, and Zheng He was chosen as the suitable commander for the fleet.

24:24 The treasure fleets led by Zheng He included trade as part of their mission, showcasing Chinese goods and wares, but the smaller ships were more involved in actual trading, with ports like Malacca being central to Chinese trade. The fleets traveled far and wide, including Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, the Straits of Hormuz, and even East Africa, where they brought back a giraffe and a legendary creature called the Ceylin.

28:24 Zheng He's voyages were not documented through contemporary images, but rather through detailed Chinese accounts that were later destroyed by the Ming dynasty bureaucracy out of distrust and a desire to prevent future costly expeditions.

32:01 Zheng He's voyages were primarily a massive PR exercise for China, focused on projecting the country as a peaceful and powerful empire, incorporating other cultures into their system rather than conquering them.

35:37 Zheng He was praised for his voyages and given honors, but his legacy was not celebrated for many centuries until the 20th century when China began to embrace its global power status and the Belt and Road Initiative.