Claim Testing: Authority
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTAP/ LESSON 2.3CLOSERCLAIM TESTING: AUTHORITYUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Claim Testing: Authority,” OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeDeciding how and why someone is an authority on a topic is a crucial skill, not just in history, but in our everyday assessment of claims. Dig into a historical debate about the voyages of Zheng He, a fourteenth-century sailor for the Ming Dynasty of China who led seven expeditions in the Indian Ocean, and then consider what to do when authorities disagree.Key informa0onAuthority can be earnedbased on merit, such as by licensure or educaFon (doctors, teachers, aestheFcians, electricians, lawyers, and so on). Authority can also be grantedbased on popularity or how closely we know—and therefore trust—someone.Process1.Review the credentials and theories of the two scholars, andthen circle the credentials you think are most important based on the proposed theories of each scholar.Barbara Benne+ PetersonTansen SenCreden2als•Emeritus professor of history at the University of Hawaii•PhD in history from the University of Hawaii•Former professor of history at Oregon State University and adjunct faculty at Portland State University•Senior Fulbright Scholar to Japan (1967) and China (1988–1989)•Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize seven Fmes•Winner of numerous book awards including the Dartmouth Medal•PublicaFons: 20+ papers, 22 booksCreden2als•Professor of history and director of the Center for Global Asia at New York University Shanghai; associate professor of history at New York University•PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania•Recipient of numerous grants from the NaFonal Endowment for the HumaniFes, the American Philosophical Society, the Japan FoundaFon, and others•Founding head of the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Center in Singapore•Served on the governing board of Nalanda University•PublicaFons: 20+ papers, 6 booksTheoryIn Peterson’s arFcle “The Ming Voyages of Cheng Ho (Zheng He),” published in 1994, she acknowledges that Zheng He’s voyages throughout the Indian Ocean might have seemed inFmidaFng to the TheoryIn Sen’s arFcle “The Impact of Zheng He’s ExpediFons on Indian Ocean InteracFons,” published in 2016, he argues that Zheng He’s expediFons in the Indian Ocean on behalf of the Ming Dynasty
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP/ LESSON 2.3CLOSERCLAIM TESTING: AUTHORITY2people he came upon; however, she also states that “these expediFons had no intenFon of military conquest by force; rather they desired the expansion of the Middle Kingdom [China] by friendly trade and alliance.” Peterson admits that there were Fmes when Zheng He had to intervene in local affairs such as “removing an unlawful usurper who had murdered the former king, a vassal of China,” but the overall mission was to establish “peaceful trade.” emperor were militarisFc and someFmes violent in nature,and resulted in the Ming Dynasty exerFng control over the Indian Ocean from “coastal China to eastern Africa.” Sen cites evidence that Zheng He and his crew of thousands of Chinese sailors interfered in local disputes, waged wars against chiekains who were deemed unfavorable to China, and installed officials who were willing to pay tribute to the Ming emperor.2.Is one of these people more credible in their field than the other? Why or why not?3.Is it hard to choose between the theories described above? Why or why not?4.What more would you need to know to determine whom to believe?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP/ LESSON 2.3CLOSERCLAIM TESTING: AUTHORITY35.Which other claim testers would be helpful to use in determining what to believe?6.How can two authorities on this topic have such different views of the same events? In other words, what does it mean to havea competing narrative in history class?7.Based on the information provided about Barbara Bennett Peterson and Tansen Sen, write a claim about which authority you choose to believe,and why.