Is gavin menzies assertions in his books, 1421 and 1434, taken seriously by the history community. He brings the reader aboard the remarkable chinese fleet as it sails from china to cairo and florence, and then back across the world. Dec 12, 2015 the complete title of the book is 1434. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance, published in 2008. In this provocative, highly readable history, gavin menzies makes the startling argument that china provided the spark that set the renaissance ablaze. Oct 11, 2008 i know 1421 was trashed by historians and that it does have some serious gaps, but 1434 doesnt seem to have as many problems. The year china discovered america and was surprised about the influence that chinese mapping and navigational technology had on european exploration. Is gavin menzies assertions in his books, 1421 and 1434.
Reading like a reallife indiana jones story the lost empire of atlantis takes us on an epic journey around the world to finally uncover the truth behind the mystery of. Take me to 1434 reading like a reallife indiana jones story the lost empire of atlantis takes us on an epic journey around the world to finally uncover the truth behind the mystery of. The new york times bestselling author of 1421 offers another stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new. The year china discovered america, that squadrons from zheng hes fleets, between 1421 and 1423, did indeed get. But now bestselling historian gavin menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434, china then the worlds most technologically advanced civilization provided the spark that set the european renaissance ablaze. Sep 08, 2008 closer to home, china is enjoying another pr success. Textbooks tell us that it came about as a result of a rediscovery of the ideas and ideals of classical greece and rome. In his follow up book 1434 he claims that the european renaissance was sparked by the chinese. The year a chinese fleet sailed to france and ignited. With verve and unflagging conviction, gavin menzies advances a thesis that, if. The year china discovered the world, gavin menzies revealed that it was the chinese that discovered america. Whether a chinese fleet brought the brilliant chinese book, the nong shu, or it came from some other route, amateur sleuth gavin menzies seems to provide compelling evidence that china was the source for a number of important inventions credited to da vinci and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 1434. The book is fascinating but i am not yet convinced.
Gavin menzies has now written another book called 1434 due to be published this month june 2008. His knowledge of seafaring and navigation sparked his interest in the epic voyages of. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance ebook written by gavin menzies. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance p.
I know 1421 was trashed by historians and that it does have some serious gaps, but 1434 doesnt seem to have as many problems. This pair of books will do for history what plate tectonics did for geology. Like the olympic spectacular, menzies book celebrates chinese history. Whether a chinese fleet brought the brilliant chinese book, the nong shu, or it came from some other route, amateur sleuth gavin menzies seems to provide compelling evidence that china was the source for a number of important inventions credited to da. With verve and unflagging conviction, gavin menzies advances a. His knowledge of seafaring and navigation sparked his interest in the epic voyages of chinese admiral. Unfortunately though, 1434 is a laboured and dry read, and i found it quite hard work. The list of discoveries and technologies are staggering. The year china discovered the world, gavin menzies revealed that it was the chinese that discovered america, not columbus. After that date the authority of aristotle and ptolemy was overturned and artistic conventions challenged, as was arabic astronomy and cartography. 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.
Read 1434 the year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance by gavin menzies available from rakuten kobo. Gavin menzies, a former british royal navy officer, argues in the bestseller 1421. In 1434, gavin menzies offers a stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new evidence on the european renaissance, tracing its roots to china. The brilliance of the renaissance laid the foundation of the modern world. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance, was even more informative. Gavin menzies made it his lifes work after retiring from the british navy to find out. A couple of years ago, i read gavin menzies book 1421. In 1434, gavin menzies combines this pdf longoverdue historical reexamination with the excitement of an investigative adventure.
The year china discovered the world which claims that the chinese admiral zheng he discovered america in 1421. Gavin menzies 19372020 was the bestselling author of 1421. But now bestselling historian gavin menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434. I was intrigued by this books subtitle the year a chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance, and ultimately menzies doesnt disappoint on this. See the newest novels, discuss with other book lovers, buy romance books online. Jan 01, 2002 menzies is most known for his book 1421. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 1434. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance. Gavin menzies newest book 1434, takes up where he left off in his prior book 1421, that was focused on the voyages of the chinese navigator admiral zheng he. The year china discovered the world, by gavin menzies. In 1434, gavin menzies combines this longoverdue historical reexamination with the excitement of an investigative adventure. Gavin menzies had the idea to write his first book after he and his wife marcella visited the forbidden city for their twentyfifth wedding anniversary. Gavin menzies claims that a chinese naval fleet actually reached italy in the 15th century.
The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and. I also bought the paperback version of the book to see the illustrations and ancient maps detailed in the narrative. The chinese carried with them silks, fine porcelain, and thousands of slave girls who eventually melded. In 1421, he claims china discovered america, australia, antarctica, and took siberia home. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance by gavin menzies harpercollins is available from telegraph books for. Menzies work have been entirely discredited by historians from china, the usa.
For researchers and fans of gavin menzies books, 1421 and 1434. Apr 06, 2014 textbooks tell us that it came about as a result of a rediscovery of the ideas and ideals of classical greece and rome. In this book, menzies states that in 1434, the chinese travelled to europe and gave their knowledge of astronomy, cartography, agriculture, machines, weapons, and many other areas of knowledge to the vatican. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance extended his discovery hypothesis to the european continent. Every bookshop in britain is presenting a book called 1434 by gavin menzies as a major history title. What is your reaction to reading 1434 by gavin menzies. Menzies noticed that they kept encountering the year 1421 and, concluding that it must have been an extraordinary year in world history, decided to write a book about everything that happened in the world in 1421. This video talks about a famous example of bad history. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Historians have categorised menzies work as pseudohistory.
But now bestselling historian gavin menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434, chinathen the worlds most technologically advanced civilizationprovided the spark that set the european renaissance ablaze. Menzies follows graham hancocks trick of stuffing the book with footnotes, which most of his readers will never. He served for 27 years as a member of the british royal navy, but he dropped out of school when h. Jul 01, 2009 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. Menzies picks up the thread in this outstanding new history book continuing to show new evidence of zheng hes influence to other european countries, specifically italy at the time of the. A continuation of sorts of 1421 which puts forth the hypothesis that the chinese fleet under zheng he, discovered america, 1434 advances on with a controversial proposition that the renaissance was brought to europe by the same.
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