Which eunuch admiral led the Great Fleet voyages associated with early Chinese exploration?

• A. Christopher Columbus
• B. Vasco da Gama
• C. Zheng He
• D. Ferdinand Magellan

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is who led the Great Fleet voyages in early Chinese exploration. Zheng He was a court eunuch who rose to admiral in the Ming dynasty and commanded the treasure voyages from roughly 1405 to 1433. His fleets sailed through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa, showcasing China’s maritime reach and diplomacy. The other figures were European explorers unrelated to these Chinese voyages: Christopher Columbus reached the Americas for Spain, Vasco da Gama opened a sea route to India around Africa, and Ferdinand Magellan led the first circumnavigation. Zheng He is the one connected with the Great Fleet voyages.