INTRODUCTION
World exploration and explorers are always hailed in history books and classes as significant events and people because they have opened doors to new eras of trade, knowledge and information, technology and cultural consolidation. The names Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are some of the greatest names in exploration. Countries that have often been associated with historical explorations are Spain, Portugal, Great Britain – in other words, Western countries. A closer scrutiny, however, of historical explorations showed that ancient China conducted explorations and voyages even before these Western countries did in the 15th century. The voyages occurred ...
