Chapter 1 The Historical Background for Zheng He's Voyages to Africa 1.1 The Social Background for Zheng He's Seven Voyages to the Western Ocean 1.1.1 The Prosperity of the Early Ming Dynasty 1.1.2 The Need for National Unity 1.2 Motivations for Zheng He's Voyages to Africa 1.2.1 The Ultimate Goal ofZheng He's Voyages 1.2.2 Asian and African Countries Zheng He Visited on the Seventh Voyage Chapter 2 Profound Significance of Zheug lie's Voyages to Africa 2.1 Zheng He's Three Routes to Africa 2.1.1 Three Routes the Sub-fleets Took and Three Trade Routes from China to Africa 2.1.2 The Optimal Route to Africa: from Kollam to Mogadiscio across the Indian Ocean 2.2 Strengthening China-Africa Trade and Exchanges 2.2.1 Commercial Interests Driving Zheng He's Visits to Africa 2.2.2 Main Trading Partners ofZheng He's Fleet in Africa: Mogadiscio, Brava and Djibouti 2.2.3 Trade Complementarity Strengthening China-Africa Trade 2.3 The Influence and Significance ofZheng He's Voyages 2.3.1 The Contemporary Positive Influence of Zheng He's Voyages on the World 2.3.2 The Far-reaching Influence of Zheng He's Voyages Compared with Western Colonialists' Barbaric Deeds Chapter 3 Navigation Technology Safeguarding Zheug lie's Voyages 3.1 Treasure Ships Made with Advanced Technology 3.1.1 Advanced Shipbuilding Technology in the Song and Yuan Dynasties 3.1.2 Zheng He's Treasure Ships 3.2 Routes and Features ofZheng He's Voyages to the Western Ocean 3.2.1 Routes ofZheng He's Seven Voyages 3.2.2 Major Routes ofZheng He's Voyages to the Western Ocean 3.3 Support and Communication for Zheng He's fleet 3.3.1 Ship Maintenance, Food Supply and Health Safety 3.3.2 Communication Employed by Zheng He's Fleet Chapter 4 The "Chinese Village" on Pate Island of Kenya 4.1 Discovery of Zheng He's Crew's Descendants in Africa 4.1.1 Media Coverage of Descendants of Zheng He's Crew 4.1.2 The "Chinese Village" on Pate Island of the Lamu Archipelago 4.2 What Happened to Zheng He's Crew after the Shipwreck 4.2.1 Zheng He's Crew Landing at Shanga and Siyu on Pate Island 4.2.2 Causes ofZheng He's Crew and their Descendants Leaving Pate Village 4.3 Love for China 4.3.1 Love for China of an Old Man with a Shoulder Pole 4.3.2 Chinese Traditions Retained on Pate Island 4.4 Chinese Descendants Inherit Chinese Medicine 4.4.1 Chinese Massage and Cupping Therapy in the Chinese Village on Pate Island 4.4.2 Chinese Massage in Shanga Chapter 5 The Earliest Chinese Immigrants to Africa in the Early Ming Dynasty 5.1 History of Overseas Chinese in Africa 5.1.1 Categorization of the Earliest Overseas Chinese in Africa 5.1.2 Stages of Development 5.2 The First Chinese Immigrants to Africa 5.2.1 Survivors of the Shipwreck in East Africa 5.2.2 Integration of Descendants of Zheng He's Crew into the Local Community 5.3 Significance of an Earlier Start of Chinese Immigration to Africa 5.3.1 Debunking the Fallacy that "Europeans Discovered Africa" 5.3.2 Supporting Africa's "Eastward Orientation" 5.3.3 Setting an Example for the Overseas Chinese Community in Africa 5.3.4 Refuting the Fallacy of"Neo-Colonialism" Chapter 6 Zheng He's Voyages to Africa and Joint Construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road 6.1 The Significance of Zheng He's Voyages to Construction of the Maritime Silk Road 6.1.1 Differences between Zheng He's Routes and the Tang Dynasty Route 6.1.2 A Sound and Effective Trade Network Built from Zheng He's Voyages 6.1.3 Corresponding Incentive Mechanisms to Guarantee the Safety of the Maritime Silk Road 6.1.4 The Significance ofZheng He's Voyages to Construction of Maritime Silk Road 6.2 Significance of Traditional China-Africa Friendship to Construction of 21st Century Maritime Silk Road 6.2.1 Newly Discovered History of the East African Coast through the Study of Porcelain 6.2.2 Kylin, the Symbol of China-Africa Friendship 6.3 Significance of China's Contemporary African Policy in Building the 21s' Century Maritime Silk Road 6.3.1 "China Threat Theory" Should Be Stopped 6.3.2 Significance of China's Contemporary African Policy in Building the 21 s' Century Maritime Silk Road References