Essay Example on Multi-Polar World: The Rise of Asia & Its Impact

Since the Sustained, World War II Asia has experienced fast financial growth which has irrefutably improved the area's economic yield and military abilities. Books and articles exist that hype the idea of the rise of the Asian era and the end of Western domination. However, it is a gross overstatement to suggest that Asia will arise and become the world's major power actor today. Asia's emergence will cause the onset of a multi-polar rather than a unipolar world. This report is meant to agree with Kristoff's assertion that Asia lost its world influence by two and a half reasons.

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China, for instance, had been wealthier and had more sophisticated equipment in comparison to any other country in Europe but never conquered anything outside their continent. For example, between the years 1405 and 1433, Zheng led seven principal voyages, controlling the most significant fleet that was to exist in the subsequent five centuries. The next fleet that compared to that was seen in World War I ("1492: The Prequel"). Comparing his fleet to Columbus, and Zheng should have been capable of conquering very many regions as compared to him. The Chinese navy had advanced equipment such as balanced rudders that were introduced in Europe 350 years later. Asia stood a great chance at influencing the world then. The complexity of Zheng He's armada highlights how the East was far ahead of the West at one point. China had been more diverse and wealthier than Europe except for the era of the Roman Empire.

Additionally, Zheng He got to East Africa a half a century before Columbus and was aware of the trade between the Europeans and Arab that happened there (546). The Chinese had the opportunity to take up a different route through the Cape of Good Hope and start direct trade routes with Europe. However, they looked down upon the continent since they knew they had better skills and equipment, and they also did not have much interest in the goods of trade, which included: wine, wool, and wine ("1492: The Prequel"). Whatever China wanted was found in Africa, medicines, ivory, spices, and samples of the wildlife as well as spices. During this period, India and China together formed a good portion of the world gross national product and have held that position for a large part of history and have maintained that even in recent times. Countries with a higher gross domestic product have a good economy and should be able to come up with advanced equipment or use the money to acquire expert personnel. Asia missed an opportunity at this point.

China even went ahead to set a foundation for Europe and the West to take over Africa, After Asia withdrew. Now the adventures of Zheng He resulted in a disastrous wasted chance. He laid the foundation for the escalation of Europe then, ultimately, America ("1492: The Prequel"). Westerners regularly credit their financial advantage currently to the astuteness, autonomous ways, or great work of their forerunners. Nevertheless, an additional significant reason might have been the irrationality of the Chinese leaders in the 15th century ("1492: The Prequel").

Zheng He's town of residence was Nanjing. The Ming dynasty had relocated from the same city to Beijing, which allowed all the merchants and farmers to take advantage of the trade. Beijing and Nanjing became lucrative markets due to the reconstruction of the major canal that allowed food and wealth to enter Beijing from Yangzi ("1492: The Prequel"). The Chinese traded silver and gold, which were the allowed currencies by the Ming traders (547). China, however, did not produce silver (593). Instead, it imported it from Japan. The country's economy expanded; this was a time when China was getting over the Black Death. At the same time, Europe made a move and conquered South East Asia trading cities (548). The Ottomans, who were in power, then did not view this as a threat, but Europe ended up obtaining power from this.

Zheng He's adventures had led the people to South East Asia, and for that person in that region, consider him a deity. He is, however, not well recognized in Nanjing where he resides, and there is nothing to show of what he did for people there. Zheng He's fleet was way outstanding, definitely than any other vessel that existed before that or after that until five centuries later. The ships were well equipped and way advanced. The fleet also had supply vessels to ferry freshwater tankers and warships as well as troops. His entire crew was reliable and had

Twenty-eight thousand fellows and among them were language translators, astrologers, and doctors. One would expect that after such an undertaking that the aftermath would be a part of more profound and a record in Chinese history. Zheng made history, and he, however, did not change it; this might be taken as a lesson since his traces in modern China are very faint ("1492: The Prequel"). He did not leave a mark in the people, meaning his exploration attempts failed. He had the opportunity to make and change history in Africa as well as in Nanjing for China, but he retreated and disregarded European steps, which brought them the conquest.

Asia missed an opportunity to take over the world when they lost a fleet in an Indian port. It was their chance to take over the second section of the millennium ("1492: The Prequel"). Kristoff explained that When Zheng He was sailing across the Indian Ocean, there was a war between the eunuchs and the dominants of the upper levels in the Chinese regime, the Confucian scholar-officials. The eunuchs were considered as unethical and wicked. The eunuchs' part at law courts included taking care of concubines. However, they also worked as palace managers, frequently issuing out deals and receiving kickbacks in return. Partially due to their renowned insatiability, they endorsed business. The scholars, on the other hand, owed their rank to their knowledge of 2,000year-old manuscripts. Eunuchs did not have any roots of the kind in their past. However, they were progressive and outward-looking at times. It was the righteous, just intellectuals who set China on its catastrophic path in the 15th century.

The Yongle Emporer passed away in 1424, and there China started experiencing the harsh power struggles, the emperor who succeeded Yongle also died in mysterious ways. After that, the Scholars gained power ("1492: The Prequel"). The ships created by Zheng He's successors were all destroyed as well as the making of new boats. Any opportunities of ever exploring again were entirely destroyed, including the sailing catalog of Zheng He and Chinas navy.

Kristoff explains in ("1492: The Prequel") that China's influence was not lost due to the Solitary power struggle in the 1440s result. Many academics have tried to come up with many reasons as to why china face the economic distress it did. However, the two and a half reasons by Kristoff seem to be more concrete. The first reason being, Asia did not have the greed Europe had. The central communal code in early China remained Confucianism then in India, and it was status; through the outcome, the leaders in these countries disregarded business. Early China cared more about other things such as religion, arts, education, honor, filial piety, and prestige; making money for them was at the bottom of the list. Confucius had precisely stated that it would be immoral for anyone to go for any distance exploration while their maternal parents still lived. He had also said that only a "little man" would be concerned with profit ("1492: The Prequel"). Zheng He's ships were not as substantial money makers as they should have been since they ferried luxurious gifts and goods to overseas leaders.

Europe was so consumed with greed, unlike Asia. Portugal was first in the exploration journey in Africa. In the pursuit of spices, which was deemed a precious item. They hoped for more profits, so they set sail to the African coast and ultimately got to the Horn of Asia. Secondly, Asia's financial inaction is further tough to express; however, it has to do with the philosophy of complacency ("1492: The Prequel"). Asian countries, mainly India and China, share in an inclination to be conservative and dedicated to historical principles and ways, deference for power, and disbelief of new concepts.

David S. Landes wrote about the "intellectual xenophobia" in China; additionally, a prime minister of India also noticed the "static nature" as well as "petrification of classes" that existed among the Indians. All the terms used by David and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal described similar financial and logical complacency ("1492: The Prequel"). Chinese influential considered their nation the "Middle Kingdom"; they also believed that the barbarians overseas had nothing to teach them. Similarly, Indians portrayed the same level of complacency.

Conclusion

The half reason by Kristoff is that while Europe was a collection of many nations, China was a single one. The Confucian scholars' policies when they got control over Beijing doomed China since they forbid shipping ("1492: The Prequel"). England, however, were opportunists, and when tragedy was occurring on one end, they saw it as an opportunity and maximized it. For instance, the Portuguese slipped into the quasi-Chinese mentality.