Zheng He
Zheng He was a Muslim eunuch admiral in the service of the Ming dynasty who commanded seven massive maritime expeditions across the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433. His treasure fleets of enormous baochuan (treasure ships), some reportedly 130 metres long, visited Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Arabia, and the Swahili coast of East Africa, projecting Ming power, collecting tribute, and establishing trade relations. The voyages were cut short after his death when Confucian officials, hostile to costly foreign entanglements, suppressed the maritime programme and burnt its records — a decisive moment when China turned inward as Europe began its own oceanic expansion.
- Lived: 1371 CE – 1433 CE
- Nationality: chinese
- Roles: admiral, diplomat, explorer
