In the sixteenth century, Europeans navigated to East Asia and confronted a world governed by China. The development of the Chinese economy, end of the Mongol rule and reestablishment of the native Chinese dynasty played an important role in their success. The Ming merchants became successful and influential. The Ming rulers developed a way to control foreign trade, also known as the Tributary system. This tributary system was a sophisticated means of managing political interactions. Demands were increasing on the Chinese to open a market available to foreign merchants to trade goods. Early sixteenth century, the Ming government opened a harbor that gave access to these foreign traders. Not long after, the Fujian coast was open to trade with Southeast Asia.
Both Levathes and Bernstein have a different approach and view on global maritime trade in the fifteenth century. Levathes…show more content… According to Levathes, explorers travelling to Asia were not only there to trade but were very influenced by their ideas. “The similarity between Chinese characters and the square-shaped Mayan glyphs, and the astonishing resemblance of Chinese and Mayan calendars with their complicated, intercepting cycles of days and years (Levathes, 31-32).” Another main argument of Levathes is that the Chinese were interested in trade, more so than we think. “Trade in North China was severely limited if not nonexistent.(Levathes, 34).” They were very intrigued by sandalwood, aloe, cloves, frankincense, myrrh, dates, saffron powder, pistachio nuts, black pepper, an mustard. Although these exotic goods from India,