<P> Zheng He ( Chinese : 鄭和 ; 1371 -- 1433 or 1435 ) was a Chinese mariner , explorer , diplomat , fleet admiral , and enslaved court eunuch during China 's early Ming dynasty . He was originally born as Ma He in a Muslim family , later adopted the conferred surname Zheng from Emperor Yongle . Zheng commanded expeditionary voyages to Southeast Asia , South Asia , Western Asia , and East Africa from 1405 to 1433 . His larger ships stretched 120 meters or more in length . These carried hundreds of sailors on four tiers of decks . </P>
<P> Zheng He ( Chinese : 鄭和 ; 1371 -- 1433 or 1435 ) was a Chinese mariner , explorer , diplomat , fleet admiral , and enslaved court eunuch during China 's early Ming dynasty . He was originally born as Ma He in a Muslim family , later adopted the conferred surname Zheng from Emperor Yongle . Zheng commanded expeditionary voyages to Southeast Asia , South Asia , Western Asia , and East Africa from 1405 to 1433 . His larger ships stretched 120 meters or more in length . These carried hundreds of sailors on four tiers of decks . </P>
who led chinas naval exploration during the age of exploration
who led chinas naval exploration during the age of exploration
Zheng He
Zheng He