via National Geographic, 15 June 2022: National Geographic feature on the Nanhai No. 1 shipwreck, which was raised in its entirety in 2007 and housed in a purpose-built museum.
In 1125 the Song dynasty lost control of northern China. The emperor retreated south and soon set up a new capital at Lin’an (today Hangzhou). Known as the Southern Song, this state survived and even flourished.
The enemy forces to their north blocked the Southern Song from the overland Silk Trade routes that connected with Central Asia and Europe. This artery had formed the basis of the Song’s economy for centuries, but their new southern location gave them access to extensive sea lanes that ran through the South China Sea. The Southern Song turned to shipbuilding and pursued their fortunes on the water.
In the late 12th century, a Song merchant ship laden with goods set out for a voyage but sank soon after leaving port. Eight centuries later, its discovery provides a fascinating snapshot into the moment when China set its sights on becoming a great naval power.
Source: China kept this 800-year-old shipwreck a secret for decades | National Geographic
