The second part of the book deals with Asia and the division of the Indian Ocean into three major parts. The three circuits consisted of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. The west circuit was mainly used and inhabited by Muslims. The middle circuit was primarily Hindus mixed with some Buddhists. The east circuit was used by the Chinese. I found the pages on Ibn Majid's writings very interesting. They were written at the end of the 15th century and are basically a "navigator's manual". Giving an summarized account of older sea manuals, Majid tells the reader nothing new or innovative. Nevertheless he explains when a ship should or shouldn't set sail for other ports. A set of monsoon sailing dates collaborate with his tales of warning. What was Ibn Majid's profession? Why did he feel it was necessary to publish his work?
The book then continues on to explain how the fall of Rome impacted Arab merchants. Before the fall, Rome imported a plethora of items, while exporting very little. As a result, Rome had to pay a significant amount of gold. When the Arab's steady flow of trade suddenly stopped, Arabs felt the reprecussions. Their "trade underwent a sharp decline in the fifth and sixth centuries. South Arabia entered a period of economic stagnation". Next, China slowly started opening her ports to "Perisan, Arab, Malaysian, and Indian ships". Instead of meeting traders in the Strait. The Chinese maintained a huge army that started to decline in the 15th century. What caused the decline of the Chinese navy? What impact did its disappearance have on the ocean's powers?
Kayla O
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I've asked this question myself. The decline of the Chinese Navy is very peculiar. They floated some suggestions in the book that it may have been that when the Chinese got away from Mongol rule that they went back to their Confucian roots that said something like profit and consumerism are bad things.
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