- Zheng He--China's greatest explorer
Zheng He is considered China's explorer by Muslims and Non-Muslims a like. Not only was he an excellent explorer but he was also the greatest admiral and diplomat. Zheng He has also been credited for discovering the Americas and Australia before Christopher Columbus and Captain Cook did. He traveled across the world on different lands.
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Early Life
Ma He was his original name that was given to him because Ma in the Chinese langugue is short for "Muhammad". He was born into an ethnic group known as Hui who were majorily Muslims even to this day. Both his father Ma Hajji and grandfather who also carried the title hajji were able to go to Makkah and perform Hajj. So he in fact came from a well practising Muslim family.
When he was 10, his hometown was raided by the Ming army. General Fu Youde captured him and took him as a prisoner.
He was then sent to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing and was made to serve in the household of the prince. The prince, Zhu Di was eleven years older than Ma He, he was sent to fight the Mongols as a soldier by Beiping (Beijing). He oftenly went on millitary expeditions with Zhu Di, but on March 1390 he had won the battle against the Mongols when the general had surrendered.
When he was 10, his hometown was raided by the Ming army. General Fu Youde captured him and took him as a prisoner.
He was then sent to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing and was made to serve in the household of the prince. The prince, Zhu Di was eleven years older than Ma He, he was sent to fight the Mongols as a soldier by Beiping (Beijing). He oftenly went on millitary expeditions with Zhu Di, but on March 1390 he had won the battle against the Mongols when the general had surrendered.