1405–1433Reputable sourceWell documented
Zheng He's Treasure Voyages
On the timeline · around 1405–1433 · Song, Yuan & Ming
What happened
Between 1405 and 1433 the Ming admiral Zheng He led seven great voyages with fleets of hundreds of ships — the largest wooden vessels of their age — reaching Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, and the coast of East Africa. The expeditions carried trade goods and gifts to project Ming power and secure tribute.
Why it matters
China commanded the seas decades before Europe's voyages of discovery — then, after 1433, turned inward and abandoned the fleets, a striking road not taken in world history.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Seven Voyages of Zheng He · Reputable source
Related timelines
- The Age of Exploration → — China's fleets before Columbus