THE HISTORY DESK / EVENT GUIDE
When Did Zheng He’s First Voyage Begin? 1405
Zheng He’s first maritime expedition under the Ming dynasty began in 1405 and returned in 1407. The first expedition was part of a wider series that reached Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Dates to keep straight
- 1405 — The first expedition under Zheng He begins. Use this year for a clue that asks when the voyages started.
- 1407 — Zheng He returns from that first major expedition. The departure and return are two years apart.
- By 1433 — The series of seven expeditions has taken Ming fleets across the Indian Ocean, including voyages that reached East Africa.
Which date does the clue ask for?
A first voyage, the full series, and a later port call refer to different things. Use 1405 for the start. Treat 1405–1433 as the span of the series, and consult a voyage-specific source for a given port. Long-distance shipping around Southeast Asia also predates the Ming expeditions.
Try a quick recall check
Which came first: Zheng He’s first expedition or Columbus’s first Atlantic voyage?
Zheng He’s first expedition began in 1405, 87 years before Columbus set out in 1492. The dates refer to separate fleets and ocean routes.