The Treasure Fleet was abandoned at the urging of a political ... the globe decades before the Europeans did, but instead the Ming Dynasty retracted into itself and entered a 200-year-long slump.

Early in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an expansion of seaborne trade took place with the construction of an immense treasure fleet—reported to consist of 317 ships when it was assembled in ...

The enterprising spirit of the Ming era reached a climax following ... whom he now appointed to command the treasure fleet. At the start of the first of Zheng He's epic voyages in 1403, it is ...

Between 1405 and 1433 Admiral Zheng He of China led seven epic voyages to more than 30 countries including Sri Lanka India Indonesia Malaysia Vietnam Kenya and Tanzania The admiral and his crew ...

Between 1405 and 1433 Admiral Zheng He of China led seven epic voyages to more than 30 countries including Sri Lanka India Indonesia Malaysia Vietnam Kenya and Tanzania The admiral and his crew ...