💀Why China didn't conquer the world in 1406

In an alternate history, we'd all be speaking Chinese right now. You see, China used to have the strongest navy in the world and spread its influence around the world before the Europeans ever did. Why did China miss this chance? It's all due to China's Grand Canal, the Jing Hang Grand Canal.
This Canal single-handedly hypercarried China's economy for millennia while also being its most vulnerable weakness and crutch. Man, we have quite the story for you today.

[pineapplesareyummy]

That's because China has always had little interest in the rest of the world. It is content with what it has at home. Most of China's wars are domestic squabbles between one group of Chinese versus another group of Chinese who should rule the realm. China's territorial expansion only ever happens when a non-Chinese (a Mongol or a Manchu) sat on the Chinese throne, and finally made the Chinese accomplish what it was always capable of doing, but never had the motivation to do on its own.

[boomer]

They're not as unified as they wanted people to think. Not then and not even now.

[Veik_Reikis]

I'm so glad you don't do the "LET'S SET SAIL FOR X." anymore. That shit was brutal on headphones.

[MrDnong]

For thousands of years of wars, ancient Chinese rulers learned that all their enemies came from the northern lands. Consequently, regardless of the dynasty, China never considered establishing a navy to conquer the vast southern seas. The Ming Dynasty's great maritime voyages and later maritime prohibitions were, in fact, attempts by the imperial court to monopolize maritime trade for profit rather than for conquest.
After Europe entered the Age of Exploration, China was already significantly behind. It could be said that due to the long-standing agricultural traditions and relative prosperity, the rulers' vision did not extend far into the world. China had consistently lagged behind contemporary Europe. Their goal was merely to rule over the 'Nine Provinces and Four Seas, ' which constituted the Chinese emperor's realm.

[unspeacializedstudent]

Final: You forgot to add Vietnam as an enemy on the sea of China????

[MrDnong]

Chinese emperors didn't even consider Vietnam, Goryeo (Korea), and Japan, which were tribute states, as their enemies. After all, in the age of sailing ships, how many troops could be sent by sea to attack a land? That's why the Ming Dynasty's army consistently defeated the Japanese on the Korean Peninsula. So, in the era of cold weapons, China had been seen as 'Celestial States' by other countries across the sea . And by virtue of advanced maritime technology of that time, this is also how people were able to colonize and migrate to uninhabited islands in the South China seas and fishing.

[TheScotian]

yea they still wouldnt have conquered the world.

[giaopx]

Since the 3 most watch video of your are about Vietnam, you should double down on it and make more Vietnamese history content. 3rd Indochina war would be a great start

[iykeaustin]

Man, I love this channel. Oh... and given that the jews were a rambunctious lot, it didn't take too much to much to piss them of. Jesus did his best to incense them, though.😏

[keegandecker]

No Chinese imperialism?

Tell that to the Vietnamese

[blazer]

Europeans were always an advanced civilization.

[ihl]

I don't think Ming Navy was the strongest navy in the world. IMO the navies of various Indian and Arab states, as well as Ottoman Empire's were just as strong, if not stronger.

The Ming might possesses some of the largest sailing ship ever built (if you believe the story about the size of Zheng He's treasure ship), but you can't seriously think Ming navy was better than, for example, the battle hardened Ottoman navy which included Egyptian Red Sea fleet (which patrol the Indian ocean) and vicious barbary fleet of the North Africa (which constantly battling the vaunted navies of Venice, Genoa, and Spain).

Ming was larger and richer (in term of GDP) than Ottoman Empire, so Ming could build larger navy if they really serious about it. However, Ottoman navy should be more experienced and far more capable, since the they constantly fighting against other powerful navies in Europe and Indian ocean (i.e. not mere pirates).

You should also consider the powerful navies of various Indian states and Malayan/Malaccan kingdoms/Sultanates.
After all, combined Malaccan navy *defeated* Yuan dynasty's navy (i.e. the combined might of Chinese and Korean navies), during Yuan Dynasty's attempt to subjugate modern Indonesia/Malaysia.