Columbus, da Gama and Captain Cook may have taken the credit for a
world of discoveries, but it seems the Chinese beat them all to it
by a considerable margin. At least, that is the theory of former
submarine commander Gavin Menzies who has spent 15 years
researching an idea that on the surface may sound far-fetched.
Unlike most revisionists, however, Menzies has a mass of evidence
to support his ideas, including ancient maps, large standing stones
and other material treasures left along the various routes - not
least a number of sunken junks. According to the book - set to
become a TV documentary - a massive Chinese fleet set sail in 1421
on the orders of Emperor Zhu Di. The emperor ordered his eunuch
admirals, led by Zheng He, to discover new lands and unite the
whole world under the umbrella of Confucian harmony - which,
reading between the lines, means they were to find some cheap
markets with which China could trade. The admirals' journeys lasted
more than two years, during which they discovered, mapped and
explored America (70 years before Columbus), Australia (350 years
before Cook), and even Antarctica. So how did knowledge of these
adventures become lost? Menzies has the answer to that, too. He
says that when the admirals returned home they found China in a
state of turmoil - in effect, going through a civil war. All
evidence of the old emperor's achievements was destroyed, the
nation spurned overseas contacts and so began centuries of
isolation. Menzies makes his case well, presenting an enormous
amount of evidence that is difficult to contradict. He also shows
how the theory addresses many previously unanswered questions about
ancient maps that some have said must have come from Atlantis,
others from space aliens. It seems they were more likely the work
of a crowd of enterprising eunuchs. This is a stunning book,
eye-opening in its revelations and lavishly illustrated throughout.
A bestseller in the making. (Kirkus UK)
Compelling evidence that the Chinese were the first great maritime explorers -- not the Europeans. Rewrite the history books!
In 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen sailed from its base in China. The ships, huge junks nearly 500 feet long and built from the finest teak, were under the command of Emperor Zhu Di’s loyal eunuch admirals. Their mission was to proceed all the way to the end of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas and unite the whole world in Confucian harmony. Their journey would last over two years and circle the globe.
When they returned, Zhu Di had lost power and China was beginning its long, self-imposed isolation from the world. The great ships rotted and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America 70 years before Columbus and circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. They had also discovered Antarctica, reached Australia 350 years before Cook, and solved the problem of longitude 300 years before the Europeans.
In this fascinating historical detective story, Gavin Menzies shares the remarkable account of his discoveries and the incontrovertible evidence supporting them.
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