Zheng He's Maritime Voyages
Between 1405 and 1433, the Muslim eunuch admiral Zheng He leads seven massive naval expeditions from China. His flagship fleet consists of treasure ships (baochuan) up to 130 meters long—far larger than European caravels of the era. The voyages reach Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India, the Persian Gulf, and the Swahili coast of East Africa, collecting tribute, establishing trade relations, and bringing back exotic goods and animals (including giraffes) for the imperial court. After Zheng He's death in 1433, Confucian bureaucrats suppress the maritime program and burn the records, ending China's age of exploration.
- Year: 1405 CE
- Category: Exploration
