Discover China and Chinese culture and tradition for yourself on a Small Group Tour.
If you’re fascinated by Chinese culture and tradition, if you have an inquiring mind, open to new ideas and theories, you may enjoy the following two books by Gavin Menzies.
1421: The Year China Discovered America (P.S.)
1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance (P.S.)
They are indeed food for thought and make for very interesting reading. There is definitely more than a grain of truth in Gavin Menzies’ assertions on the possibility of a much greater area of exploration being achieved by the Chinese Fleet than is recorded. The history, of the actual achievements that are recorded, on the exploration of the Chinese Treasure ships under the eunich Admiral Zheng He, are quite an amazing feat and accomplishment of their time.
The amount of research Menzies has done impresses. The fact that a copy of a book, called “Nung Shu” which was written, illustrated and printed by the Chinese in 1313 on their inventions, still exists in the British Library is amazing. These two books by Gaven Menzies do leave you wondering if our traditional history books on famous voyages of exploration and inventions just forgot to mention the earlier knowledge provided to other countries by the Chinese. Fascinating reading!
About Lyn
Yes, although china is such a huge place and there are so many places to see that it is hard to choose which ones to visit first. But going to the Great Wall is definitely on top of that list for most people. It’s still a little hard to believe how much work they have put into that beauty.