Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Why Ming China Ended the Treasure Fleet Voyages

Between 1405 and 1433, Ming China sent out seven gigantic naval expeditions under the command of Zheng He the great eunuch admiral. These expeditions traveled along the Indian Ocean trade routes as far as Arabia and the coast of East Africa, but in 1433, the government suddenly called them off. What Prompted the End of the Treasure Fleet? In part, the sense of surprise and even bewilderment that the Ming governments decision elicits in western observers arises from a misunderstanding about the original purpose of Zheng Hes voyages. Less than a century later, in 1497, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama traveled to some of the same places from the west; he also called in at the ports of East Africa, and then headed to India, the reverse of the Chinese itinerary. Da Gama went in search of adventure and trade, so many westerners assume that the same motives inspired Zheng Hes trips. However, the Ming admiral and his treasure fleet were not engaged in a voyage of exploration, for one simple reason: the Chinese already knew about the ports and countries around the Indian Ocean. Indeed, both Zheng Hes father and grandfather used the honorific hajji, an indication that they had performed their ritual pilgrimage to Mecca, on the Arabian Peninsula. Zheng He was not sailing off into the unknown. Likewise, the Ming admiral was not sailing out in search of trade. For one thing, in the fifteenth century, all the world coveted Chinese silks and porcelain; China had no need to seek out customers — Chinas customers came to them. For another, in the Confucian world order, merchants were considered to be among the lowliest members of society. Confucius saw merchants and other middlemen as parasites, profiting on the work of the farmers and artisans who actually produced trade goods. An imperial fleet would not sully itself with such a lowly matter as trade. If not trade or new horizons, then, what was Zheng He seeking? The seven voyages of the Treasure Fleet were meant to display Chinese might to all the kingdoms and trade ports of the Indian Ocean world and to bring back exotic toys and novelties for the emperor. In other words, Zheng Hes enormous junks were intended to shock and awe other Asian principalities into offering tribute to the Ming. So then, why did the Ming halt these voyages in 1433, and either burn the great fleet in its moorings or allow it to rot (depending upon the source)? Ming Reasoning There were three principal reasons for this decision. First, the Yongle Emperor who sponsored Zheng Hes first six voyages died in 1424. His son, the Hongxi Emperor, was much more conservative and Confucianist in his thought, so he ordered the voyages stopped. (There was one last voyage under Yongles grandson, Xuande, in 1430-33.) In addition to political motivation, the new emperor had financial motivation. The treasure fleet voyages cost Ming China enormous amounts of money; since they were not trade excursions, the government recovered little of the cost. The Hongxi Emperor inherited a treasury that was much emptier than it might have been, if not for his fathers Indian Ocean adventures. China was self-sufficient; it didnt need anything from the Indian Ocean world, so why send out these huge fleets? Finally, during the reigns of the Hongxi and Xuande Emperors, Ming China faced a growing threat to its land borders in the west. The Mongols and other Central Asian peoples made increasingly bold raids on western China, forcing the Ming rulers to concentrate their attention and their resources on securing the countrys inland borders. For all of these reasons, Ming China stopped sending out the magnificent Treasure Fleet. However, it is still tempting to muse on the what if questions. What if the Chinese had continued to patrol the Indian Ocean? What if Vasco da Gamas four little Portuguese caravels had run into a stupendous fleet of more than 250 Chinese junks of various sizes, but all of them larger than the Portuguese flagship? How would world history have been different, if Ming China had ruled the waves in 1497-98?

Friday, May 15, 2020

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Early Life And Career - 1616 Words

The â€Å"Early Life and Career† of John Pemberton stated that he was born on January 8, 1831 in Knoxville, in Crawford County. Pemberton grew up and attended the local schools in Rome. His family lived there almost thirty years. He studied medicine and pharmaceutical practices at the Reform Medical College of Georgia in Macon. In 1850, at age nineteen, he was licensed to practice with Thomsonian medicine and the Botanic Principles. And such pharmaceutical practitioners during that time relied heavily on herbal remedies and on purifying the body of toxins that seemed commonly suspicious to the general public. Pemberton, â€Å"otherwise known as Doc,† practiced medicine and surgical prodecures first in Rome along with the surrounding areas and then afterwards in Columbia. In 1855 he established a wholesale retail drug business specializing in material media. Before the Civil War he acquired a graduate degree in pharmacy, but the exact date and place are unknown. Pember ton and the Columbus Company were part of the analytical and manufacturing laboratories which were unique in the south. While Pemberton had one great obsession which was to create medicine and the perfect beverage, he although invented a lot of patent medicines and owned a successful chemist’s store. He wanted to do something more, something bigger. At age fifty, his chief interest in life was to patent a so-called medicated drink which could not only make him a fortune but also secure a place in scientific historyShow MoreRelatedCareer Overview : Early Stages Of My Life Essay1065 Words   |  5 PagesAlexis Thigpen Professor Timm Hackett ACA 122-OL3-OL3 03 November 2016 Career Overview In the early stages of my life I wanted to become everything when I was older. It started at wanted to be a teacher, police officer and then a firefighter I was young and didn’t know what I wanted to be. Because I liked all these occupations I concluded that I just wanted a job that involved me helping others. As I grew older and based on my experiences I know that I want to be in the nursing field. I comeRead MoreEarly Life and Career of Tim Berners-Lee Essay513 Words   |  3 PagesCERN (a large particle physics laboratory near Geneva Switzerland) as a software engineer. Early Life and Career Berners-Lee is the son of mathematicians, Mary Lee Woods and Conway Berners-Lee, both of whom worked on the commercially-built computer, the Ferranti Mark 1. Being the son of two mathematicians, Tim often discussed mathematics as well as science with his parents at home. From an early age, Tim’s interest has been captivated by electronics. So much so that he even follows the developmentRead MoreThe Career Growth And Financial Insecurity Early On My Professional Life762 Words   |  4 Pagesadmission into medical school brings with it. The challenge for me was not conforming to career choices of my family and community and try to make my own way in this world. I come from a family of accountants and engineers and a community where business and finance are preferred over life sciences. I had to respond to strong arguments regarding slow career growth and financial insecurity early on in my professional life. At that time, I realized that even though the experience might be perilous, the opportunityRead MoreEarly life and military career[edit] Born in Tampa, Florida, Kittinger was educated at the Bolles700 Words   |  3 PagesEarly life and military career[edit] Born in Tampa, Florida, Kittinger was educated at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, and the University of Florida. After racing speedboats as a teenager, he entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1949. On completion of aviation cadet training in March 1950, he received a USAF Pilot rating and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was subsequently assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing based at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, flying the F-84 ThunderjetRead MoreStrategies for Keeping Employees Motivated in Each of Early and Late Career Stages.1284 Words   |  6 Pagesstrategies may differ for employees in early career from that of late career workers. In Australia the working population is mainly comprised of the baby boomers (members in the generation of 1950s). However as this age group is nearing retirement it is highly essential to motivate the late career workers as well as the early career workers who enter in to the work field. Late career workers are defined as employees above 50 years of age and nearing retirement. Early career workers are defined as employeesRead MoreMy Career Path For A Teacher Essay1211 Words   |  5 Pagesgoals of how they want to approach the right career path for them. They also have many different careers to choose from, they just have to find the right career for them. 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Charlie Chaplin produced an incredible legacy, one that is easy to see through his background and life history, his lengthy career in filmRead MoreHow Child Development Is Important For A Person s Life1644 Words   |  7 Pages Throughout a person’s life, being able to develop is important to become successful. The most beneficial time for a person to develop skills that will help them be successful is during a person’s childhood . Many people never pay attention to the process of child development, but the details are most important to become successful. In our society, the way someone develops during the early years of their life will have a huge effect on their academic success. For this reason, I believe we shouldRead MoreAre Schools Pushing Students Towards Success Or Distress? Essay1189 Words   |  5 Pagesschool’s career programs, particularly in elementary, middle, and high schools. Early on, children are being educated about potential job opportunities. To some, this may sound beneficial to students because it seems as if they are being introduced to various occupations and preparing for success. But what if that’s not the case? While guiding a student through their plans for the future can be helpful, this isn’t always as great as it seems. Some schools are requiring that students choose a career pathRead More Seasons Of A Mans Life Essays1265 Words   |  6 Pages Daniel J. Levinson wrote The Seasons of A Mans Life. Mr. Levinson conducted his research for the book in the late 1960s. At that time he was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of the Yale University School of Medicine, Director of Psychology in the Connecticut Mental Health Center and Director of the Research Unit for Social Psychology and Psychiatry. Early in the book, Mr. Levinson states his reasons for engaging in the research of male adult development and for

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Types Of Project Management Methodology †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Types Of Project Management Methodology. Answer: Definition of Project Methodology The word methodology refers to the system of methods used in a particular activity. Project methodology is a therefore a guiding process that helps in proper implementation of a project. Project methodology is not tool specific but a set of rules that helps in proper implementation of a project. It therefore provides a proper strategic plan for successful project implementation (Leau et al., 2012). According to pundak, (2014), methodology of a project can be defined as a standard for choosing different process, procedures and techniques for implementation of a project. Project methodology can further be defined as proper application of project management knowledge, tools and techniques for successful project implementation (Schwalbe, 2015). Therefore, it can be said that a project methodology plays a significant role in ensuring a project success. There is an increasing need for using a proper project methodology in project implementation as it ensures implementation of a project in a planned approach. There are differentproject management methodologies that can be undertaken by analysing the project requirements. The different types of project management methodology include waterfall, PRINCE2, Agile XP and agile scrum. Analyzing PMBOK and PRINCE2 PMBOK is a project management standard that defines the different tools and techniques required for successful project implementation. The Project Management Body of Knowledge provides a set of guidelines that gives an overview of the different project management practices. The 10 knowledge areas of PMBOK provide a detailed overview of the different processes associated with the process of project planning and implementation of a project. The PRINCE2 project methodology can be defined as a process based method that provides an effective project management solution. PRINCE2 is a widely recognized project management methodology that manages the project after dividing it into certain controllable units. Segregation of a project into certain manageable units makes it easier to track and update the project progress. The similarities and the differences between these two approach of project management is discussed in the following section- Analysis of Similarities between PMBOK and PRINCE2 The similarities between PMBOK and PRINCE2 are as follows- PMBOK and PRINCE2 both provide an idea of structured project implementation. PMBOM ensures that proper project management tools and techniques are used to implement a project in a planned approach. The PRINCE2 project methodology ensures implementation of a project in a controlled environment (Karaman Kurt, 2015). Therefore, both the processes can be used to implement a project thorough supervision. Both PMBOK and PRINCE2 ensure that the project undergoes proper processes of risk management before its implementation. Risk management is an important aspect of project management and both this approaches includes risk management at the initiation phase of the project. Both the approaches ensure there is a proper communication flow in the project. Communication plan therefore is a major necessity for both the approaches. However, both PMBOK and PRINCE2 differ from each other in a number of aspects. The dissimilarities between PRINCE2 and PMBOK are discussed in the following section. Dissimilarities between PMBOK and PRINCE2 The dissimilarities between PMBOK and PRINCE2 are as follows- PMBOK is a standard while PRINCE2 is a project methodology. Therefore, there is huge difference in the implementation approach of both the processes (Matos Lopes, 2013). The working principle of PRINCE2 methodology includes implementation of a project in controlled environment. This makes the process of tracking the project progress easier. PRINCE2 methodology further allows the project team in controlling the project implementation process. Project control however, is not possible in PMBOK. Quite contrast to PRINCE2 methodology, in PMBOK, the project manager is the central decision maker of the project (Ghosh et al., 2012). PMBOK process is generally based on project plan and proper planning is the driving force of the project. IN PRINCE2 business case acts as the driving force for controlling and managing a project. PMBOK follows a knowledge based approach while PRINCE2 is process oriented. PRINCE2 although does not incorporate all the knowledge areas of PMBOK, the principles, themes and processes of PMBOK are consistent with the PMBOK guide. PMBOK is administered by PMI while PRINCE2 is administered by the APMG PRINCE2 methodology is tailorable while PMBOK is follows a non prescriptive approach. PRINCE2 and Project Life Cycle (PLC) Project lifecycle gives a proper overview of initiation, planning, execution and closure of a project. PLC is followed by almost all the project managers irrespective of the project management approach chosen for the project. The project life cycle creates a proper framework for managing a particular project (Joslin Mller, 2015). PRINCE2 project methodology relates to the project life cycle as in PRINCE2 as well, he entire project is divided into a number of phases. Unlike project life cycle that consists of four major phases, in PRINCE2 project methodology, the project is subdivided into seven phases which are Pre initiation phase, project initiation, direction of a project, project control, project management, management of project delivery and the project closure. Proper execution of all the phases of the project ensures success of a particular project. Project life cycle holds a very important place in management of a project as it helps in managing any type of project (Kerzner Kerzner, 2017). PLC helps a project manager in coordinating the different aspects of a project thus ensuring proper project implementation and successful delivery of a project. References Ghosh, S., Forrest, D., DiNetta, T., Wolfe, B., Lambert, D. C. (2012). Enhance PMBOK by comparing it with P2M, ICB, PRINCE2, APM and Scrum project management standards.PM World Today,14(1), 1-77. Joslin, R., Mller, R. (2015). Relationships between a project management methodology and project success in different project governance contexts.International Journal of Project Management,33(6), 1377-1392. Karaman, E., Kurt, M. (2015). Comparison of project management methodologies: prince 2 versus PMBOK for it projects.Int. Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering Research,4(5), 657-664. Kerzner, H., Kerzner, H. R. (2017).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Leau, Y. B., Loo, W. K., Tham, W. Y., Tan, S. F. (2012). Software development life cycle AGILE vs traditional approaches. InInternational Conference on Information and Network Technology(Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 162-167). Matos, S., Lopes, E. (2013). Prince2 or PMBOKa question of choice.Procedia Technology,9, 787-794. Schwalbe, K. (2015).Information technology project management. Cengage Learning. pundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodologyreality or illusion?.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,119, 939-948.