Timeline (No Haijin)

This is a timeline that explores what could have happened had China not retreated into the policy of haijin, or "sea ban" that crippled the general power of the East in OTL's "Age of Discovery".

14th Century
1368--The Hongwu Emperor takes power in China, moving the capital to Nanjing and forcing the Mongolian rulers of the Yuan dynasty to retreat to the steppes. He founds the Ming dynasty

1371 (Point of Divergence)-- In order to curtail piracy, the Hongwu Emperor considers a sea ban. However, he discards the idea, as it would hurt China's economic strength and legitimate traders. Instead, he meets with authorities of local powers, such as the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of Japan, on strategies for defeating the pirates.

1398--The Hongwu Emperor is succeeded by the Jianwen Emperor

1402--The Yongle Emperor defeats the Jianwen Emperor and succeeds him. China is driven into economic failure. The Yongle Emperor comes up with strategies to revitalize the Chinese economy

1405--Expeditions westward set out from China