1421: The Year China Discovered the WorldHaing read this, I'm pretty convinced that there is a strong possibility that the Chinese did indeed discover much of the world in and just after 1421 [our calendar]. I'm not a historian but the evidence looked solid; most impressive is the issue of accurate maps predating the European [mainly Portuguese] forays into the wider world. In fact the maps that may well go back to these Chinese expeditions seem to have been a reason for the Europeans to go a wandering themselves. More convincing than that the maps were copies of maps made by visitors from out of space, certainly.
Whay did the Chinese not capitalize on this to become a colonial power before the Europeans got the idea and got there? -Domestic politics and a lightining strike led to the thought that Heaven did not approve of all this gallivanting and the domestic hardships it caused; so began a period of isolationism.
There's a 'what if...? novel awaiting this; what if that lightning had never struck and the Chinese had consolidated colonies in Australia, South America, North America and even Africa? -I could go for that if I knew more about Chinese history and culture....
Ps. If you want to check out some of the evidence without yet buying the book try the website: 1421 - Gavin Menzies .
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