"On 2nd February 1421, China dwarfed every nation on earth" (-1421-the year china discovered the world, by Gavin Menzies)

At the start of the 15th century china had reached a point of technological and cultural level that couldn't be matched by any other nation in the world. their government, science trade and manufacturing enabled them build the biggest ships the world had seen, begin rivalled only centuries later by the Victorian trading ships.