Starter quiz
- What type of transport would a seafarer use?
a train
a bicycle
a ship ✓
- Who travelled and lived in longboats?
- early Polynesian explorers
- the Vikings ✓
- early humans
-
- What is a voyage?
- a long journey, usually through water ✓
- a holiday in another country
- a hike in the countryside
-
- What sort of activity happens in places called ports?
- flying
- trading ✓
- running
-
- What do archaeologists study?
- the paths of birds
- objects from the future
- objects from the past ✓
-
- What did Vikings use a sun-shadow board for?
- sleeping
- navigating ✓
- moving boats through the water
-
Exit quiz
- Which country was Zheng He from?
- Japan
- India
- China ✓
-
- What special name was used for the ships Zheng He sailed in?
- sailing ships
- treasure ships ✓
- cargo ships
-
- What was the main reason for Zheng He's voyages?
- to explore new countries and places
- to show the sailors how to sail a ship
- to show off Chinese power and wealth ✓
-
- Which continent did Zheng He reach on his furthest journey?
- Asia
- Africa ✓
- Europe
- America
-
- How do we know about Zheng He's journeys?
- Stories were carved on granite steles. ✓
- Stories were written in books.
- stories were told to children
-
- Match the words to the definitions.
- admiral⇔a person in charge of ships and sailors ✓
- stele⇔a rock with information carved into it ✓
- seafarer⇔a person who often explores new places by sea ✓
- China⇔a country in Asia ✓
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Zheng He was a Chinese admiral and explorer and made his final voyage of discovery in 1432, which would be his furthest.
- First stopping at Changle on the Chinese coast, he ordered the inscription of granite stele describing his journeys.
- Zheng He had made six other voyages in the seas of South East Asia and across the Indian Ocean.
- These voyages, made in huge 'treasure ships', were to show off Chinese power and force foreign rulers to pay tribute.
- Having travelled to East Africa, the expedition returned, but without Zheng He, who had died and was buried at sea.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that Zheng He went on his voyages by himself.
He was admiral of the Chinese fleet. He took many ships and lots of sailors on the voyages.
Keywords
China - China is a country in Asia
Admiral - an admiral is a person in charge of many ships and sailors
Seafarer - a person who often explores new places by sea is a seafarer
Stele - a stele is a large piece of carved rock showing a story or information
+