Did China Discover The World?

There’re two books around now that propose the theory that Chinese fleets in 1421 sailed and mapped the world, including the Americas and Australia, and that Chinese influence weighed heavily in the Renaissance.

The author Gavin Menzies has been severely bashed by some historians because he makes claims (like Leonardo Da Vinci was not the inventor we think he was) that are bound to stir up the hornet’s nest.

But on the other hand, someone said history is the lies of the victors and China did fade out after the late 1400s and Europe took the lead as designated driver for the next six hundred years. The first book says that the Chinese Fleet was on a goodwill tour exchanging species of plants and animals wherever it went.

I was explaining that theory to a Philippines friend who nodded and said, “Yes, I know that. We’re taught that in school. It’s called the Great Barter (or something like that). We got corn from China and other things like that. They went everywhere.”

Huh? You’re taught that in school? How come I wasn’t?

They’re interesting books. Check them out on Amazon, and Wiki has entries here:  The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance.

And here: 1421 The Year China Discovered the World – Criticism.

Here’s the author’s site: http://www.gavinmenzies.net/

Tags: 1400s, Amazon, Barter, Chinese Influence, Fleet, Fleets, Gavin Menzies, Goodwill Tour, Historians, Hornet, Hornet Nest, Hornet S Nest, Hundred Years, Interesting Books, Inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci, Plants And Animals, Renaissance, Two Books, Victors, Wiki