China played a leading role in connecting the cultures across North and East Africa and Eurasia because of its superior culture, technology, and luxury goods. They established the Silk Road across central Eurasia and played a prominent role in the maritime trade across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. The 7 voyages of Admiral Zheng He, each of them consisting of hundreds of large ships, culminated the display of Chinese superiority. But China ended the voyages and pulled within itself as...