Treasure Voyages

The treasure voyages were the seven Ming dynasty naval expeditions led by Admiral Zheng He from 1405 to 1433, mounted by the Yongle and Xuande emperors to display Chinese power and secure tribute across the Indian Ocean world. The fleets reached Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, Arabia, and the Swahili coast of East Africa, far larger than any contemporary European venture. After 1433 the court halted the voyages and restricted seagoing trade under the haijin bans, and the great ships were left to rot.