Following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the expansionist Ottoman empire, the vital link between east and west was lost. The Ottomans exacted heavy tolls on those who wished to trade through the Bosporus, leading to a loss of trade goods for the following years. Meanwhile, the Ottomans got wealthier. The Europeans, particularly the Portuguese, were both eager and desperate to establish a new trade route leading to India that would bypass the Ottoman empire.

A naval squadron of deep-water galleons commanded by Vasco de Gama, a Portuguese explorer, was tasked with finding a new seaborne trade route that would lead to India. He sailed down the western coast of Africa and believed that the world ended there. Fortunately, heavy storms and prevailing winds pushed his ships as he rounded the Cape of Good Hope and sailed into the Indian Ocean.

He traveled north to India and filled his holds with the exotic Indian spices. He then returned home. His discovery was significant. The new trade route allowed for ships to bypass the hostile Ottoman empire and reach the lands of the Far East. Although it was a difficult and long voyage, the rewards were high as the exotic Indian spices were in high demand by the European nobility, who liked the taste of it on their foods.

The primary European advantage was its ships – galleons. Galleons were large, multi-decked and deep-hulled sailing ships first used as armed cargo carriers due to its hold size. The three main sails allowed for good speed. There could carry a large amount of supplies, and owing to the ship’s durability, made it optimal for deep-water voyages where there was prevailing wind and currents as opposed to the coastline.

Unlike previous galleys who required calm seas for movement, galleons were suited to harsh weather conditions of the ocean and had the propulsion of sails. Galleys used oars which in deep sea voyages were slow. Sails enabled ships to take advantage of prevailing winds to travel faster.

However, the new trade route was long and arduous. Attempts and seizing control of the Ottoman lands were futile since it was too powerful. The Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille funded an expedition by Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, in search of an alternative trade route by sailing through the Atlantic. Little did they know that the African trade route was much shorter.

Nevertheless, Columbus set sail with a small ragged squadron of galleons and discovered the Americas, dubbed the ‘New World’ by contemporaries. The discovery was not impressive, although Columbus firmly believed he found India, there was no riches or spices he brought back to prove it so. It was not until Magellan did the alternative route find its way to India and the Far East.

The West has its score of great seafaring feats. Yet the east had none comparable, or so it would seem. From 1405 to 1433, under the command of the Ming emperor Yongle, the eunuch Zheng He sailed with a fleet of 63 ships and 30,000 men, with almost all being soldiers. The purpose of the seven expeditions was mostly political – to demonstrate the military might of the Ming Empire and collect tribute. Those who refused to pay would be destroyed. To those who paid silver or gold, the Ming exchanged them for valuable good such as silk and jade, rare enough in China.

As you can see from this map, Zheng He’s route was mainly coastal. This was due to his ships. Being junks with high storage but low endurance, he had to stick to the coast for protection and safe anchorage. Whereas the western ships were more durable, the eastern ships relied on coast to travel. Another reason for this is convenience. Many nations were centered around coastlines so sticking to the coast would mean more nations and more tribute. 30,000 soldiers is quite a lot, more than capable of destroying a petty principality.

However, the difference is quite clear. Eastern seafaring, most notably Chinese, are mainly focused on coastline travel rather than deep sea voyages. Being a land empire, it is natural. The Chinese only really use ships when fighting in lakes or rivers where the weather is calm allowing for galley/junk combat.

The war junk isn’t very seaworthy from the looks of it. The sails are fragile, the ship could be easily broken, and the hull draft is shallow. Looking at the galleon we understand why the West is more capable of seafaring. Their ship designs. Their ships have deeper hulls allowing for more durability thus longer voyages. The east fights their wars on land since everything is accessible through key settlements. In the West, armies must cross seas to invade others.

The geography has set the role for how the ships work out and play out.