Final answer:
Zheng He commanded a fleet of large ships called treasure ships. These ships were approximately 400 feet long and almost 200 feet wide, much larger than Columbus's ships. The treasure ships were built for military personnel transport, trade, and diplomatic missions.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Zheng He's expeditions, he commanded a fleet of large ships known as treasure ships. These treasure ships were approximately 400 feet long and almost 200 feet wide, making them significantly larger than the ships used by Christopher Columbus nearly a century later. Zheng He's ships had shallow drafts to navigate in river estuaries and watertight bulkheads to protect them from sinking. They had nine masts that were up to two hundred feet tall and were fitted with rattan sails. The treasure ships were built primarily for military personnel transport, in addition to trade and diplomatic missions.