Approximately when was the first 140m+ ship built?

Question

I've just been reading about Noah's Ark ( http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v19/i2/animals.asp ) and the claim that it was about 140m long. So, I was wondering, with the exception of Noah's Ark, when did mankind achieve the technology to produce a 140m+ ship?

Answer 1

The Chinese treasure fleet of around 1420 built very large junks made of hardwood. Many were of 100m plus in length, believe it or not.

They sailed these junks around the world and discovered America, Australia and all the major continents well before the Europeans did. Their only drawback was that they could only sail before the wind (With the wind behind them) but nevertheless managed to circumnavigate the globe and made it back to China.

So approximately 1400 was when they were built.

Answer 2

But, if you want to go even further back. Check out the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Carthagian, Phoenician, and Viking ships in their perspective eras. Some of the Greek and Roman galleys were very large and required many slaves or oarsmen to row. Come to think about it, even the Polynesian, Aztec, and Mayan boats were also quite large.