World History Sample DBQ Question

Question:

Writing of the 1400’s, historians have asserted that “Asia was the world economy.”  Using the documents below and your own knowledge, discuss whether you think this statement is correct. Be sure to include evidence for your argument (SEE ALSO DBQ RUBRIC IN CLASS READING ARCHIVES ON RIGHT). 

Document 1: 

This document is an excerpt from the retelling of the voyages of Zheng He (also know as Chang Ho), a Chinese mariner and explorer from the 1400’s. It recounts his Voyages of Discovery under the Ming emperors.

It was the fourth voyage, which began in 1413 and ended in August, 1415, that took the expedition far beyond its earlier destinations.  Under the same command but with a crew of 27,670 men and some 63 large vessels, the expedition touched at a number of new places, including the Maldives, Hormuz, the Hadramaut coast, and Aden.  In Sumatra, the expedition became involved in a local power struggle at Ch’iao-shan.  A usurper by the name of Su-wa-la, after murdering the king, directed his forces against the expedition, but was subsequently defeated and pursued as far as Lambri, where he and his family were captured.  The prisoners were taken to Nanking on the return of the fleet.  As a result of this voyage, nineteen countries sent envoys and tribute to the Ming court.  Chu Ti [the emperor] was so pleased with the results that he rewarded all participants in the expedition according to their ranks. 

Document 2: 
This document is an excerpt from the accounts of Ma Huan, an admiral in the fleet of Zheng He, when the fleet reached Calicut in India.

The Che-ti [Hindu traders in Mumbai] mostly purchase all kinds of precious stones and pearls, and they manufacture coral beads and other such things.  Foreign ships from every place come there; and the king of the country also sends a chief and a writer and others to watch the sales; thereupon the collect the duty and pay it to the authorities. 

Document 3: 
This is a map of the voyages of Zheng He in the 1400’s.
http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/ming-dynasty.html
(SEE ALSO MAP JPEG FILE IN CLASS READINGS ARCHIVE ON THE RIGHT).

Document 4:
This is an excerpt from the Voyages of Marco Polo.

We shall now speak of the revenue which the grand khan draws from the city of Kin-sai…In the first place, upon salt, the most productive article, he levies a yearly duty…amounting to six million four hundred thousand ducats…There is here cultivated and manufactured a large quantity of sugar, which pays, as do all other groceries, three and one-third percent.  The same is also veiled upon wine, or fermented liquor, made of rice…The account being made up in the presence of Marco Polo, he had an opportunity of seeing the the revenue of his majesty, exclusively of that arriving from salt, already stated, amount in the year to the sum of sixteen million eight hundred thousand ducats.