Zheng He (1371–1433 or 1435), originally named Ma He, was a
Hui court
eunuch,
mariner,
explorer,
diplomat, and
fleet admiral during
China's
early Ming dynasty. Zheng commanded
expeditionary voyages to
Southeast Asia,
South Asia,
Western Asia, and
East Africa from 1405 to 1433. His larger ships stretched 400 feet in length (Columbus's Santa Maria, for comparison, was 85 feet). These carried hundreds of sailors on four tiers of decks.