Chinese Exploration in the 1400s

In the early 1400s, China sent out the largest fleet of ships the world had ever seen. A man named Zheng He led these great voyages. His ships sailed across the Indian Ocean to Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. These trips showed the world how powerful China was.

Zheng He's Fleet

Zheng He's biggest ships were called treasure ships. Some were over 400 feet long. That is much bigger than the ships Columbus used later. The fleet carried thousands of sailors, soldiers, and traders. They brought gifts like silk, gold, and porcelain to share with other lands.

The Seven Voyages

Zheng He made seven great voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited more than 30 countries. His ships reached the east coast of Africa. He brought back exotic animals like giraffes and zebras to China. After his last voyage, China stopped sending out large fleets and turned inward.

Fun Facts

• Zheng He's treasure ships may have been over 400 feet long, while Columbus's ships were about 85 feet long.
• Zheng He brought a giraffe back to China, and people thought it was a mythical creature.
• His fleet sometimes had more than 300 ships and 27,000 crew members.

Did You Know?

Zheng He's voyages happened about 90 years before Columbus sailed to the Americas.