Description
The Yongle Emperor, initiated the construction of Admiral Zheng He’s Treasure Fleet, with which China undertook diplomatic and trade expeditions to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Arabia and East Africa. China became the world’s preeminent naval power at a time when Europeans had not yet begun their Voyages of Discovery. Some scholars even contend that the Treasure Fleet even explored as far as the California. The voyages continued until 1433 before abruptly stopping and China retreated back behind its own borders.