1421- The Year China Discovered America
By Gavin Menzies
Let me start by writing that I am well aware that mainstream historians and archaeologists reject this interpretation, but for simple-minded readers like me perhaps, this book makes complete sense. Menzies was a submarine commander and knew ships, currents and winds – all the things needed for sea travel. Menzies had actually been to sea.
“1421- The Year China Discovered America” re-affirms my belief that sea travel was king back in pre-history. That has been proven. Even huge Chinese Junks were capable of harrowing sea travel, let alone fleets with support ships. Menzies describes how China shut down to the outside world while the fleet was at sea for several years. Menzies collected other information, such as huge carved stone pillars, various DNA, foodstuffs, and wreckage.
Much evidence was dated, and sure enough pieces of ships (only built with wood found in China), there was similar language (especially in Indian tribes), customs, etc.
The entire West Coast was visited by Chinese, the Europeans much later.
In an appendix, Menzies offers these clues:
“The whole world was charted by 1423, including major rivers”
China claims the fleets charted the entire world.
China discovered how to calculate latitude.
Twenty-five pieces of evidence, such as:
-Chinese maps and charts which escaped destruction
-Chinese or Asiatic people found by the first European explorers
-Local accounts of the above
-DNA of peoples in the New World: The Chinese connection
..Many, many more, including various artifacts found long ago.
The author describes Chinese sea travel near both north and south pole, as well as very advanced navigation.
Hints are provided that an even earlier civilization had been many, many places and charted the world as was known then. Sea level was much different during the ice age.
Menzies states that Chinese fowl (which are found in the Americas) could not fly to another continent. Other crops such as coconuts, yams, and especially corn, which can only be planted by man, are found all over the world now.
In fact, Menzies speculates that the (now underwater) Bimini Road – may indeed be a causeway for dragging and repairing damaged ships. He claims that it is partly ship ballast, built with a gap in the center to accommodate the keel of a large ship.
There is simply too much evidence of early Chinese exploration to ignore. As I stated above, I realize that mainstream historians and archaeologists do not believe his theory. However, a simple guy like me does. If it doesn’t fit into their books, they will ignore it.
I really enjoyed this book, and learned a lot. I believe the theory to be valid.
Columbus is not the true discoverer of America, that came years later, and not the Vikings, but the Chinese.
This review will dovetail with several similar books on pre-history.
There is a sister website that has updated information: https://www.gavinmenzies.net/
-John Titus
