Chinese exploration: Difference between revisions

Before the advent of the Chinese-invented [[mariner's compass]] in the 11th century, the seasonal [[monsoon]] winds controlled navigation, blowing north from the equatorial zone in the summer and south in the winter.<ref name="fairbank 191"/> This most likely accounts for the ease with which [[Neolithic]] travelers from mainland China were able to settle on the island of [[Taiwan]] in prehistoric times.<ref name="fairbank 191"/> After defeating the last of the [[Warring States]] and consolidating an empire over [[China proper]], the Chinese navy of the [[Qin dynasty]] period (221–206 BC) assisted the land-borne invasion of [[Guangzhou]] and northern [[Vietnam]]. (Called first [[Jiaozhi]] and then [[AnnamAnnan (ChineseTang Provinceprotectorate)|Annam]],<ref name="fairbank 191">Fairbank, 191.</ref> the northern half of Vietnam would not become fully independent from [[Vietnam under Chinese rule|Chinese rule]] until AD 938.) In 1975, an ancient shipyard excavated in Guangzhou was dated to the early [[Han dynasty]] (202 BC {{ndash}} AD 220) and, with three platforms, was able to construct ships that were approximately 30&nbsp;m (98&nbsp;ft) in length, 8&nbsp;m (26&nbsp;ft) in width, and could hold a weight of 60 metric tons.<ref name="wang 1982 122">Wang (1982), 122.</ref>