Zheng He Ahead of Columbus Discovered America: British Amateur Historian

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 06, 2002

Zheng He Ahead of Columbus Discovered America: British Amateur Historian

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It is reported on Monday's UK Daily Telegraph that a British amateur historian said that the ancient Chinese explorer Zheng He had been some 72 years ahead of Columbus in discovering America. To prove this he said he was backed by many of his researches and graphs he has got on his hand.

According to the historian, it can be proved with much evidence that Zheng He had discovered most parts of the world in the middle of the 15th century. On March 15 the historian will introduce his researches to more than 200 diplomats, scholars, and bookmen at the Royal Geographical Society.

The Italian navigator Christopher Columbus arrived in America on Oct.12, 1492, and a new era of European exploration and expansion began. A 14-year study on the activities of the Chinese fleet during 1421 to 1423 told the historian that with many valuables, silk, and porcelain on his ships Zheng He was the first man completing the first circumnavigation of the globe one century earlier than Ferdinand Magellan during 1519-1522.

"No one has explained that why European explorers had maps in their hands at that time," the historian said, "And who had drawn the maps? It was a large ocean extending there and a large armada was necessary for drawing those maps. So who would be the map drawers if not the Chinese commanding the world largest armada?"

Admiral Zheng's Fleet

Our history of oceanography would not be complete without reference to the contributions that the Chinese have made to ocean exploration. While not as well-known as some of their other scientific and technological contributions, the Chinese own the distinction of assembling the largest fleet to ever sail on the ocean. full text

More detailed information on Chinese maritime history and the voyages of Admiral Zheng He can be found at the following web sites:

China's Gifts to the West, University of Pennsylvania

Western Australia Maritime Museum

Zheng He: The World's First Navigator

Columbus History

A Columbus Timeline.

The First Voyage, 1492-1493.

The Second Voyage, 1493-1496.

The Third Voyage, 1498-1500.

The Fourth Voyage, 1502-1504.

By PD Online staff member Huang Ying

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