Atlas: Expeditions Through Time

Person

Zheng He

Ming palace eunuch, admiral, and diplomat appointed by the Yongle emperor to command the treasure voyages across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Lifespan1371–1433
Rolesfleet commander, admiral, diplomat

Related expeditions

July 1405–October 1407

Zheng He’s First Treasure Voyage

Commissioned by the Yongle emperor, a large Ming fleet under Zheng He sailed through established South and Southeast Asian maritime networks to Calicut, exchanging envoys and gifts, conducting trade, and asserting imperial authority before returning to China.

Sources and further reading

  1. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405–1433, University of Washington Press. Edward L. Dreyer’s study of the voyage chronology, leadership, fleet, ports, diplomacy, and military actions; linked through the Smithsonian Libraries catalog.
  2. Zheng He, The Mariners’ Museum and Park. Biographical overview and chronology of the first voyage, including Southeast Asian ports and Calicut.
  3. The Ming Voyages, Asia for Educators, Columbia University. Historical context, purposes, fleet organization, and the maritime route through Champa, Java, Malacca, and Calicut.
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