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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Menzies makes a pretty compelling case for the Chinese fleets discovering America. Not only did I learn about the Chinese fleets but I also learned more about cartography, sailing, and Chinese politics at the time.
Even if Menzie's theory ends up being wrong the book is well worth the read.
Even if Menzie's theory ends up being wrong the book is well worth the read.
I enjoyed reading this and found the theories fascinating. I was all but taken in by it until I started researching some of the author's claims on my own. I found that most of his evidence is based on hearsay or conjecture; it doesn't stand up to normal historical or scientific scrutiny.
So, an enjoyable read, but probably mostly fantasy. Try researching the claim about the Chinese junk buried in the Sacramento River Delta in California and you'll see what I mean.
Badger
So, an enjoyable read, but probably mostly fantasy. Try researching the claim about the Chinese junk buried in the Sacramento River Delta in California and you'll see what I mean.
Badger
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
I am very curious to learn more about the Chinese explorers! Menzies makes some very compelling points, but seems to make huge leaps to justify his reasoning. I found the book to be very repetitive and slow at times.
Almost 500 pages long and then 150 pages of synopsis of evidence. Zhou Man and othes left China in 1421 and sailed all over the world bringing plants, animals and DNA to areas that had never seen such things. Ships were wrecked and buildings and camps were constructed. The amount of work and research that was done is amazing.
Don't read this. It may be a very enchanting read, and of course there is an absolutely interesting core of truth in it (the Chinese expeditions into South Asia, in the beginning over the 15th century), but it's full of speculation and exaggeration! See my review in my general account on GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/511895426.
I was 13, I read "Were the Gods kosmonauts?" by von Däniken, and I was immeditaly swept away: it all seemed very plausible and convincing. With this book I almost had the same experience. Menzies writes well, knows how to tell a story, and so he seems to convince you that a giant Chinese flotilla at the beginning of the 15th Century explored the world, and discovered America and Australia.
But then you think about it: the author doesn't understand one word of Chinese and does not but put up a chain of suppositions. Now, indeed, there's convincing evidence that some giant Chinese vessels did explore South Asia and even the East coast of Africa. But some simple checks through internet reveil that his assertions about America and Australia are based upon nothing and lots of experts in the meantime have unmasked Menzies as a fraud. Alas, this book is an enticing read and that's probably why it captivates so many people, we just want these kind of stories to be true.
But then you think about it: the author doesn't understand one word of Chinese and does not but put up a chain of suppositions. Now, indeed, there's convincing evidence that some giant Chinese vessels did explore South Asia and even the East coast of Africa. But some simple checks through internet reveil that his assertions about America and Australia are based upon nothing and lots of experts in the meantime have unmasked Menzies as a fraud. Alas, this book is an enticing read and that's probably why it captivates so many people, we just want these kind of stories to be true.
Basic test [yes/no:]: Would I recommend you read this book or not. Was it worth the few hours spent reading it? Am I pleased that I spent the time reading it? --- Yes ---
Note: Some extra information is on the website http://1421.tv/
It's an interesting thesis. The idea that in the 15th Century, just before the emperor decided that a thunderstorm and tragic fire were a sign that he was doing something wrong and that exploration was out, that Chinese explorers had made it to America and to Australia and mapped it all out. It does pose some questions about some of the accepted theories, but, and it's a bit but, a lot of it is conjecture and based on secondary sources. Unfortunately some of the primary sources were destroyed when the Emperor decided that isolationism was a good thing, so we may never know the truth of the thesis.
It's an area that needs more research, still, it was possible that others also found America, the Brendan Voyage and other experiments prove that America may have been found several times but not exploited fully.
It's not a bad read, and it's interesting to have a view from a person who is familiar with the seas about the topic, a person who experienced the tides and the changes and some of the ways things are not always as they seem on water. Still needs more research and backing for it. I did find the refer to website and paperback references a bit jarring and his leaps of faith were almost on par with those in the Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. I did find it readable and it reminded me not to always take history at face value which is an important reminder in my mind.
It's an interesting thesis. The idea that in the 15th Century, just before the emperor decided that a thunderstorm and tragic fire were a sign that he was doing something wrong and that exploration was out, that Chinese explorers had made it to America and to Australia and mapped it all out. It does pose some questions about some of the accepted theories, but, and it's a bit but, a lot of it is conjecture and based on secondary sources. Unfortunately some of the primary sources were destroyed when the Emperor decided that isolationism was a good thing, so we may never know the truth of the thesis.
It's an area that needs more research, still, it was possible that others also found America, the Brendan Voyage and other experiments prove that America may have been found several times but not exploited fully.
It's not a bad read, and it's interesting to have a view from a person who is familiar with the seas about the topic, a person who experienced the tides and the changes and some of the ways things are not always as they seem on water. Still needs more research and backing for it. I did find the refer to website and paperback references a bit jarring and his leaps of faith were almost on par with those in the Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. I did find it readable and it reminded me not to always take history at face value which is an important reminder in my mind.