Is gavin menzies assertions in his books, 1421 and 1434. I also bought the paperback version of the book to see the illustrations and ancient maps detailed in the narrative. Gavin menzies claims that a chinese naval fleet actually reached italy in the 15th century. I know 1421 was trashed by historians and that it does have some serious gaps, but 1434 doesnt seem to have as many problems. 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. His knowledge of seafaring and navigation sparked his interest in the epic voyages of.
In his follow up book 1434 he claims that the european renaissance was sparked by the chinese. The brilliance of the renaissance laid the foundation of the modern world. Every bookshop in britain is presenting a book called 1434 by gavin menzies as a major history title. 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 year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance by gavin menzies harpercollins is available from telegraph books for. 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. 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. Is gavin menzies assertions in his books, 1421 and 1434, taken seriously by the history community. In this provocative, highly readable history, gavin menzies makes the startling argument that china provided the spark that set the renaissance ablaze. 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. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance, was even more informative. 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. Read 1434 the year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance by gavin menzies available from rakuten kobo. Dec 12, 2015 the complete title of the book is 1434. With verve and unflagging conviction, gavin menzies advances a. With verve and unflagging conviction, gavin menzies advances a thesis that, if. Historians have categorised menzies work as pseudohistory.
This video talks about a famous example of bad history. He brings the reader aboard the remarkable chinese fleet as it sails from china to cairo and florence, and then back across the world. 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. Gavin menzies has now written another book called 1434 due to be published this month june 2008. 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. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance, published in 2008. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 1434. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 1434. The year china discovered the world which claims that the chinese admiral zheng he discovered america in 1421. The new york times bestselling author of 1421 offers another stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new. Menzies follows graham hancocks trick of stuffing the book with footnotes, which most of his readers will never. After that date the authority of aristotle and ptolemy was overturned and artistic conventions challenged, as was arabic astronomy and cartography. The book is fascinating but i am not yet convinced. Jan 01, 2002 menzies is most known for his book 1421.
The list of discoveries and technologies are staggering. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance p. What is your reaction to reading 1434 by gavin menzies. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and. Gavin menzies 19372020 was the bestselling author of 1421. The year china discovered america, that squadrons from zheng hes fleets, between 1421 and 1423, did indeed get. See the newest novels, discuss with other book lovers, buy romance books online.
In 1434, gavin menzies combines this pdf longoverdue historical reexamination with the excitement of an investigative adventure. The year china discovered the world, gavin menzies revealed that it was the chinese that discovered america, not columbus. Gavin menzies made it his lifes work after retiring from the british navy to find out. 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. Gavin menzies, a former british royal navy officer, argues in the bestseller 1421. 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. His knowledge of seafaring and navigation sparked his interest in the epic voyages of chinese admiral.
The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance extended his discovery hypothesis to the european continent. 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. Menzies work have been entirely discredited by historians from china, the usa. The chinese carried with them silks, fine porcelain, and thousands of slave girls who eventually melded. 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. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy. 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. Textbooks tell us that it came about as a result of a rediscovery of the ideas and ideals of classical greece and rome. In 1434, gavin menzies offers a stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new evidence on the european renaissance, tracing its roots to china. But now bestselling historian gavin menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434. This pair of books will do for history what plate tectonics did for geology. For researchers and fans of gavin menzies books, 1421 and 1434. In 1434, gavin menzies combines this longoverdue historical reexamination with the excitement of an investigative adventure. Sep 08, 2008 closer to home, china is enjoying another pr success.
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. 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. A couple of years ago, i read gavin menzies book 1421. The year a magnificent chinese fleet sailed to italy and ignited the renaissance ebook written by gavin menzies. The year a chinese fleet sailed to france and ignited. The year china discovered the world, gavin menzies revealed that it was the chinese that discovered america. 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. 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. Like the olympic spectacular, menzies book celebrates chinese history.
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