I’m fascinated by the Chinese explorer Zheng He, and I saw a new book about him (1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance ) in the Hong Kong airport last night. I was disconcerted, though, to find that it was written by Gavin Menzies, whose scholarship seems to be largely discredited (He seems to be the only historian who believes the Zheng made it to Australia and even South America).
Has anyone read the book? (or 1421 for that matter) Is it plausible?
Wait, is this at attempt at nonfiction? Because it’d be pretty cool as alternate history.
I read it. It’s an interesting thesis, but my biggest issue is that there just wasn’t enough time for the fleet to travel as far as it did (especially since he clearly argues they stayed at some locations for more than just a one-day visit). I think he’s also stretching about his justification for them being in the Caribbean and their return trip through the Northwest Passage. Also, the fleet would have to be laden down with so many artifacts that it’s hard to see how the ships would have floated.
But he raises some interesting points about certain things. And while I can’t buy his entire scenario, the idea that the Chinese may have visited California is worth some further study. It’s possible some Chinese visited the west coast, if not as part of the fleet, but as individuals.