【逐句解析】

1.    翻译第一句时，带有时间的信息属于事实背景，通常放在从句中。“……之一”要注意单复数和最高级的使用。“治理有序、社会稳定”属于特点，可译为be marked by/characterized by/featured by。"被描绘为伟大的时代”是有原因的，原因就是“治理有序、社会稳定”这一事实背景。按照常规,事实背景往往都是放在从句当中。大家可以参照译文好好体会一下行文的逻辑性-

2.    翻译第二句时，注意时态的前后一致性。“手工业的发展促进了……”适当改写为“蓬勃发展的手工业促进了……的发展”更为自然，当然改为被动就更出彩了：“ Market economy and urbanization was driven/spurred by the thriving handicrafts industry during this period.”。

3.    翻译第四、五句时，如果中文行文蹩脚，一定要先进行改写，然后再翻译，即：中文原文一改写中文一英文翻译的“三步走”。此处“还进口许多外国商品，如……”可改写为“……等许多外国商品也被进口”。“……这样的大商业中心相继形成”可改写为“……相继成为大商业中心”。

4.    翻译第六句时，“也是在明代”可以用一个强调句式凸显信息的重要性：It is...that...。此外，对郑和的身份要进行解释说明:他是一位航海家(navigator)。

【参考译文】

The Ming Dynasty，which reigned China for 276 years when the country was characterized by good governance and social stability，was depicted as one of the greatest periods of human history. During this period，the thriving handicrafts industry boosted the development of market economy and urbanization. Commodities，including alcohol and silk products，were available on the market in large quantities. At the same time，clocks and tobacco products，among many other foreign goods，were imported. Beijing，Nanjing，Yangzhou and Suzhou emerged as large commercial centers one after another. It was also during the reign of the Ming Dynasty that fleets headed by navigator Zheng He made seven large-scale，adventurous voyages to the Indian Ocean. What is also worth mentioning is that three of the Four Great Classical Novel of China were written during thisperiod.