ZHENG HE

As the second son in a Muslim family Zheng He did not have a peaceful childhood in Yunnan near Lake Dian, where he was born under the name of Ma He. A 300,000  men mongol army was sent to destroy Yunnan. His father was killed when little Ma He was only 11 years old. The Mongols made him an eunuch, which means they castrated him. He could not have kids, but this event very much affected his later career.
Later, he served a prince and they chose him because of the fact that he was castrated and eunuchs were not considered a threat because they could not rape women, they could not have children and therefore couldn't pass the power and knowledge on their offspring. The Eunuchs were given important roles and decisions.
He became a mariner, explorer, diplomat, and the admiral of the treasure fleet. The Treasure fleet made 7 voyages all under the command of Zheng He and all through the Indian Ocean. These expeditions were the largest the world had ever seen. They utilized about 30,000 men and 317 wooden ships. The biggest wooden ship ever built. They were 500 feet long and 150 feet wide. During the voyages the ships carried  over million tons of Chinese silk, ceramics, copper coins, etc., which were traded for tropical species, gemstones, textiles, and animals.

The fleet once sailed through the Malacca strip and an furious storms was raging outside, but Zheng He knew he is under divine protection and the fleet survived. On another voyage they met with the pirates. Some would think that he was scared but again he was smart enough to not panic and used his military power against them. The pirates were executed and the peace was restored.
After the seventh voyage the Chinese government stopped the voyages and isolated itself from the world. That was the end of the Treasure fleet.

However, Zheng He is still remembered in some countries. They still worship him in Indonesia. They consider him a peacemaker, a hero, and even a god. He is best remembered for his diplomacy. He even has his own temple. In Sri Lanka he is remembered as the " Man of War" because of the numerous ethnic conflicts he started when he came to trade goods for the famous Sri Lankan pepper. Zheng He is not known so much as for example Chris Columbus because the Imperial officials sought to eliminate memories of the voyages.

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

2 things that led to rise of each religion ?
empires that adapted to Christianity and  Islam
where?
who?
how?
just freakin examine the freakin religions

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Early life:

• Alexander was born 356 B.C. in Pella the capital of Kingdom of Macedon
• He was the son of Phillip II the King of Macedon  and his fourth wife, Olympias, the daughter of Neoptolemus I, king of Epirus. Although Philip had seven or eight wives, Olympias was his principal wife for some time, likely a result of giving birth to Alexander. 
• When Alexander was 13, Phillip started looking for a tutor. In the end, Phillip chose Aristotle 
• Mieza was like a boarding school for Alexander and the children of Macedonian nobles, such as Ptolemy, Hephaistion, and Cassander. Many of these students would become his friends and future generals, and are often known as the 'Companions'. Aristotle taught Alexander and his companions about medicine, philosophy, morals, religion, logic, and art.
• At age 16, Alexander's education under Aristotle ended. Philip waged war against Byzantion, leaving Alexander in charge as regent and heir apparent.  During Philip's absence, the Thracian Maedi revolted against Macedonia. Alexander responded quickly, driving them from their territory. He colonized it with Greeks, and founded a city named Alexandropolis.

Accomplishments:

The supercool-empire of Alexander the Great

• Alexander the Great  had to continue winning and beating other empires in order to feel satisfied. Pothos is a longing, or desire for something more. Alexander kept going and going because he never felt fulfilled and he never felt content with what he had. He was tempted by everything that is unknown; he liked the risk. As a child, he was sort of an outsider to his family -- it is known that he considered Aristotle, his tutor, more of a father than his own father -- but he didn't want to go "home," he wanted fulfillment. He wanted to conquer the world to assimilate the culture, also.
  
• Alexander the Great conquered more than almost any other single man ever. He conquered Greece, "Asia"(The Middle East), Egypt, and even parts of India. The reason for this was because Persia once owned this land. Alexander had what you might call a vendetta against Persia. Persia tried to conquer Greece, and Alexander was a "Greek". Also, the Greeks (League of Corinth) wanted him to. 
  
• His main goal of his quest was to seek revenge against the Persians for the bad they did to Greece. 
  
  

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