<P> The Ming treasure voyages were the seven maritime expeditions by Ming China 's treasure fleet between 1405 and 1433 . The Yongle Emperor initiated the construction of the treasure fleet in 1403 . The grand project resulted in seven far - reaching ocean voyages to the coastal territories and islands in and around the South China Sea , the Indian Ocean , and beyond . Admiral Zheng He was commissioned to command the treasure fleet for the expeditions . Six of the voyages occurred during the Yongle reign ( r . 1402 -- 24 ) , while the seventh voyage occurred under the Xuande reign ( r . 1425 -- 1435 ) . The first three voyages reached up to Calicut on India 's southwestern coast , while the fourth voyage went as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf . Afterwards , the fleet made voyages farther away to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa . </P>
<P> The Ming treasure voyages were the seven maritime expeditions by Ming China 's treasure fleet between 1405 and 1433 . The Yongle Emperor initiated the construction of the treasure fleet in 1403 . The grand project resulted in seven far - reaching ocean voyages to the coastal territories and islands in and around the South China Sea , the Indian Ocean , and beyond . Admiral Zheng He was commissioned to command the treasure fleet for the expeditions . Six of the voyages occurred during the Yongle reign ( r . 1402 -- 24 ) , while the seventh voyage occurred under the Xuande reign ( r . 1425 -- 1435 ) . The first three voyages reached up to Calicut on India 's southwestern coast , while the fourth voyage went as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf . Afterwards , the fleet made voyages farther away to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa . </P>
what was the main purpose of the ming maritime expeditions in the 15th century
what was the main purpose of the ming maritime expeditions in the 15th century
treasure
treasure