Peace mission on a grand scale: Admiral Zheng He's seven expeditions to Western Oceans / by Fang Zhongfu and Li Erhe

Introduction
Zheng He (Cheng Ho), Prince Henry and Christopher Columbus— Three of the Greatest Navigator-Explorers
Who Was the Driving Force Behind the Explorations?
Were the Ancient Chinese Not a Sea-going People?
Biography of Zheng He

Chapter One Mankind's "Great Navigation Period"—Pioneers
Exploring the Unknown World
Section 1 Opening new sea routes across the Indian Ocean
Section 2 Linking three oceans

Chapter Two Imposing Treasure Ships
Section 1 Surge of shipbuilding during the Ming Dynasty Types of ships
Treasure ships
Section 2 The mighty armada of treasure ships
Zheng He's treasure ships — a wonder on the seas
Zheng He's fleet "braving high waves like a swimming dragon"

Chapter Three Application and Improvement of Nautical Technology
Section 1 Advanced seamanship
Positioning of ships
Correction of wind pressure and current pressure errors
Celestial observation
Section 2 One of the world's earliest navigation charts —
"Zheng He's Navigation Chart"
The navigation routes opened by Zheng He on his expeditions to the Western Ocean
The practical value of "Zheng He's Navigation Chart"
The academic value of "Zheng He's Navigation Chart"

Chapter Four Trade and Diplomacy During Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Oceans
Section 1 Trading routes connecting Asia and Africa
Boosting Asia-Africa trade
Maritime trade offices, and import and export goods
Section 2 Diplomacy on a grand scale
Visits to Asian and African countries
New growth of friendship with foreign countries
Steady flow of goodwill envoys to China
Friendly relations with countries in Southeast Asia
Chapter Five The Impact of Zheng He's Voyages to the Westen Oceans
Section 1 Cultural exchanges
"The history of Tanganyika is written in Chinese porcelain"
Spreading the technique of blue-and-white porcelain
Navigation records and geographical works
Introduction of new glass-making techniques
Section 2 Religious activities