Results for "gavin menzies"

In his bestselling book 1421:The Year China Discovered the World, Gavin Menzies revealed that it was the Chinese that discovered America, not Columbus. Now he presents further astonishing evidence that it was also Chinese advances in science, art, and technology that formed the basis of the European Renaissance and our modern world. In his bestselling book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, Gavin Menzies presented controversial and compelling evidence that Chinese fleets beat Columbus, Cook and Magellan to the New World. But his research has led him to astonishing new discoveries that Chinese influence on Western culture didn't stop there. Until now, scholars have considered that the Italian Renaissance - the basis of our modern Western world - came about as a result of a re-examining the ideas of classical Greece and Rome. A stunning reappraisal of history is about to be published. Gavin Menzies makes the startling argument that a sophisticated Chinese delegation visited Italy in 1434, sparked the Renaissance, and forever changed the course of Western civilization.After that date the authority of Aristotle and Ptolemy was overturned and artistic conventions challenged, as was Arabic astronomy and cartography. Florence and Venice of the 15th century attracted traders from across the world. Menzies presents astonishing evidence that a large Chinese fleet, official ambassadors of the Emperor, arrived in Tuscany in 1434 where they met with Pope Eugenius IV in Florence. A mass of information was given by the Chinese delegation to the Pope and his entourage - concerning world maps (which Menzies argues were later given to Columbus), astronomy, mathematics, art, printing, architecture, steel manufacture, civil engineering, military machines, surveying, cartography, genetics, and more. It was this gift of knowledge that sparked the inventiveness of the Renaissance - Da Vinci's inventions, the Copernican revolution, Galileo, etc. Following 1434, Europeans emb...

'1434' is a must-read for history buffs who are interested in exploring a lesser-known aspect of history. Menzies argues that the Chinese fleet's arrival in Italy in 1434 was a catalyst for Europe's Renaissance. If you want to learn about how Chinese ideas, inventions, and discoveries influenced modern western civilization, this book is for you. The author's approach is both erudite and adventurous, giving readers a fascinating and well-reasoned account of how the world-changing event came about.

1421 is a fascinating book that challenges traditional notions of world exploration. Menzies presents compelling evidence that China discovered the world long before Columbus and Magellan. The book is great for anyone interested in history, exploration, and Chinese culture. Readers will be impressed by the extensive research, detailed accounts, and the fascinating revelations about China's role in global history.

On 3/8/1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China. Its mission was "to proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas" & unite the whole world in Confucian harmony. When it returned in 10/1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving China in political & economic chaos. The great ships were left to rot at their moorings. Most records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost in China's long, self-imposed isolation that followed was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America 70 years before Columbus & had circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. Also concealed was how the Chinese colonized America before the Europeans & transplanted in America & other countries the principal economic crops that have fed & clothed the world.Unveiling incontrovertible evidence of these astonishing voyages, "1421" rewrites our understanding of history. Our knowledge of world exploration as it's been commonly accepted for centuries must now be reconceived due to this landmark work of historical investigation.

On March 8, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China to "proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas." When the fleet returned home in October 1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving China in political and economic chaos. The great ships were left to rot at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost in the long, self-imposed isolation that followed was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America seventy years before Columbus and had circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. And they colonized America before the Europeans, transplanting the principal economic crops that have since fed and clothed the world.

Recommended for readers interested in Middle Eastern culture and history. The author's poetic writing style allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the marsh Arabs of Iraq. Maxwell provides a unique perspective on a secluded community that is sure to leave readers with a better understanding and appreciation of the culture.

If you've ever been captivated by Joseph Conrad's maritime tales, "In Search of Conrad" by Gavin Young is a compelling companion. It’s like a literary pilgrimage, letting you ride the waves through the eyes of Conrad's experiences. Young's own passion for travel and the sea brings a unique authenticity to the journey, one that any fan of Conrad, or travel literature in general, would appreciate. It's as close as you can get to stepping into the pages of Conrad's classics.

If you're drawn to tales of valor and the rich tapestries of Arthurian legend, you'll find "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" to be a captivating journey. It's a narrative that explores the complexities of honor and bravery through vivid, almost otherworldly challenges, ideal for anyone who relishes in the blend of medieval romance and moral quandaries.