The Emperor's voyages were set to win tribute and allegiance from rulers of the Indian Ocean. The huge ships were constructed with multiple bulkheads and were far superior to any European ship. Reconstruction of Ming Treasure Junk (02:19)Ī group of scholars and naval enthusiasts raise money to reconstruct a Ming junk. Ships are said to have been 400 feet long.

A rudder 11 yards long belonged to a huge treasure junk. An estimated 20,000 workers were employed at the docks. Starfleet Building Docks (01:37)ĭockyards for building China's fleet 600 years ago can still be seen. Ambassadors from around the world came to China. Zheng He's mission was aimed to spread and increase the power of the Ming Dynasty. In 1402 China was centuries ahead of the West. Who made the maps? It is conjectured that a map of the world existed by 1428, one that predated Portuguese voyages.

Evidence of Early Map of the World (02:50)Ĭolumbus and Magellan each had maps of the seas and lands they are credited with discovering. His story can only be pieced together from inscriptions on stone tablets that he erected, and other fragments of information and eyewitness accounts.

Unnoticed by anyone but Zheng He's descendants, his grave lay unnoticed for 600 years. Rekindled Interest in Admiral Zheng He (02:43) In 2002, a retired submarine commander proclaims that Zheng He's fleet circumnavigated the globe in 1421. How far had China's imperial fleet gone?sailed throughout the world? Did the Chinese reach America before European explorers had? Did the Chinese Fleet Reach America? (02:26)ĭuring the admiralty of Zheng He, the fleet undertakes 7 voyages. In 1480 Confucian courtiers burned the logbooks of the Chinese fleet. Mystery of China's Imperial Fleet (01:24) FREE PREVIEW

1421 year