1421: The Year a Chinese Muslim Discovered America (the truth)

[NinBrown]

The British submarine engineer and historian Gavin Menzies gave an astounding seminar on March 15, 2002 to the Royal Geographical Society in London, with evidence to support his theory that Zheng He, the Chinese Muslim navigator in the Ming dynasty, beat Columbus by more than 70 years in discovering America.

 

Using evidence from maps drawn dated before Columbus' trip that clearly showed America, and astronomical maps traced back to Zheng He's time, Menzies is confident that the Zheng He should be honored as the first discoverer of America.

 

Menzies's conclusion is based on 14 years of research that includes secret maps, evidence of artifacts, and apparent proof of the voyage provided by the modern astronomy software program Starry Night.

 

As key evidence for a voyage that will remake history, Menzies says he obtained ancient Chinese navigation charts associated with the travels of Zheng He. The journey ran from 1421 to 1423. Menzies maintains that the ships sailed around the Southern tips of both Africa and South America.

[Reality Check]

well what do you know...history is wrong yet again ? :confused:

[Paragon]

Yes Nino, but when Zheng He discovered the Americas, the ming dynasty was at its peak of power and wealth and so, they decided to stop sponsoring the explorations done by this Muslim master-navigator and called him back to china. The reasons for stopping the navigational exploration was due to ming's perception that "the world needs them, and they don't need anything from the world" which made almost pointless to carry on exploring. Zhenge went to lengths no other sea mariner had ever dared to reach. Even his ships were much bigger than that of Columbus.

 

I think the best book to read regarding this subject is "When China ruled the seas" by louise Levathes.

 

- Oh Allaah make my sailing days come near...