Zheng He's Treasure Fleets

Between 1405 and 1433, the Ming dynasty sent seven great fleets across the Indian Ocean under the admiral Zheng He, a Muslim court eunuch from Yunnan. The fleets visited Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, Arabia and the East African coast, carrying silk and porcelain and returning with envoys, exotic animals and tribute. Their purpose was mainly diplomatic and symbolic: to display Ming power and draw foreign rulers into China's tribute system, rather than to conquer colonies.

One famous result was a giraffe sent from East Africa that arrived at court in 1414 and was hailed as a lucky mythical creature. After 1433 the voyages stopped, as officials questioned their cost and focused on northern defence. Historians debate the significance of this choice, but comparing Zheng He with later European voyages shows different models of long-distance contact.