Zheng He engaged in oceanic exploration for China as early as 1405, well before the Europeans, yet 1450 is frequently used to mark the beginning of this era. Which statement below best explains using the later date?

(A) Zheng He failed to contact other cultures, so he is widely viewed as a failure. (B) European influence is the most significant, so beginning with the European voyages makes sense. (C) China abandoned exploration early, limiting Chinese impact on a global scale. (D) The era is characterized by colonization, and the islands off the East African coast were colonized in 1450.Explanation: China abandoned exploration during the Ming Dynasty at the behest of Confucian officials so that the country could focus on protecting its borders. Zheng He in fact contacted many other cultures (A) and brought many exotic animals and products home to China. Choice (B) is an ethnocentric statement and reflects a point of view rather than historical reality. The islands off the East African coast were not colonized by 1450 (D).