Ha ! ... Caught your attention ?
Yup ... the full title of the book is "1434 - The Year A Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy And Ignited The Renaissance"
A bit 'tired' with political topics, so thought of writing about a totally different subject.
The book was written by Gavin Menzies, a retired Officer from the British Royal Navy.
Prior to this, he has written another controversial book, entitled "1421- The Year the Chinese Discovered America"
In the '1421' book, Gavin postulates that it was the Chinese that made the voyage of discoveries in the 15th century (under the patronage of Ming Emperor Zhu Di). The voyages were led by Grand Eunuch Zheng He (郑和) and his compatriots. A total of 7 great voyages were despatched across oceans, all the way to countries in the Indian Ocean, city-states in eastern coast of Africa, rounding the Cape of Good Hope and into the (back then) 'unknown' Atlantic Ocean.
Researching through ancient medieval maps, interviews with authorities of medieval China, museum curators, and rummaging through books/documents in all major libraries around the world, and also visits to sites (which he believed the Chinese discovered) for evidence of Chinese landings ; evidence such as ship wrecks, buildings, Chinese artifacts, folklores of natives etc....
.... Gavin surmised that, as opposed to conventional wisdom/knowledge that Europeans made the voyages of discoveries into Americas, Australia, North & South Poles, the Chinese were in fact, the ones who have achieved that much earlier.
Towards the middle of 15th century (after 1435), due to political changes, Ming China reversed their 'expansionary' policy to that of 'isolation', banning overseas trips. All the knowledges of circumnavigation & discoveries of new lands, gained earlier were 'lost' through time.
As a sequel to his '1421' book, Gavin & his team continue on with further researches, in particular the focus on the effects of Chinese voyages to Europe. In his 2nd book '1434', he argues that in the year 1434, a Chinese fleet (with official ambassadors of the Emperor) arrived at Tuscany, where they were received by Pope Eugenius IV in Florence.
The delegation presented the influential Pope with a wealth of Chinese learning from a diverse range of fields : art, geography (including world maps that were passed on to Christopher Columbus & Ferdinand Magellan), astronomy, mathematics, printing, military weaponry and many more.
This vast trove of knowledge spread across Europe, igniting the legendary inventiveness of the Renaissance, including the works of such geniuses as DaVinci, Copernicus, Galileo and others.
Well, I have read & re-read '1421' and now, I will like to devour the 2nd book '1434' which I just bought today.
I believed both books are fascinating ; Gavin & his team has done extensive research and it's up to you whether to believe what he has written.
If you like to get to know more of Gavin's works, check out his website via this link :
Happy Reading !
Cheers.
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