deafclimber

Chart adds to China beat Columbus claim

Staff and wire reports

The Chinese are credited with many discoveries, including gunpowder, paper and the compass, but a claim that they discovered America is once again being met with skepticism.


An 18th-century reproduction of a map dated 1418 that suggests a Chinese fleet sailed to America decades before Christopher Columbus in 1492 went on display in Beijing this week.

The 1763 copy was bought for $500 in 2001 by Chinese lawyer and art collector Liu Gang.

Liu says he did not realize its significance until reading Gavin Menzies' 2003 best seller 1421: The Year China Discovered America. It claims that Chinese admiral Zheng He led 300 ships to America to expand Ming China's influence.

Skeptics point to inconsistencies in the book and the map, saying, for example, that the map uses language that does not fit the style of Ming China.

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Endymion

Excellent post! Historians also highly suspect that Columbus was beaten to the Americas by Polynesians too.

It is interesting how we rewrite history to the point where we think Columbus was indeed the original discoverer of America. It's like we all forget that Helen Keller was a radical socialist and that Woodrow Wilson was a white supremacist.

webexplorer

Wow. It's unbelievable!

Off subject: Most history books tell us about men's role and business. Almost none in the books tell us about women's. I wonder who brought that China item to America - man or woman? Perhaps, I suspect that Christopher Columbus had a secret Chinese girlfriend and bought her with him to the New World.

Mookie

Yeah...what about hawaii people reached their own islands?

EyesBlueDeaf

FYI: another interesting fact about China: Chinese people invented spaghetti FiRSt before Italy.
http://www.discover.com/web-exclusiv...istoric-pasta/

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Endymion

And they are credited for the invention of paper. The inventor happens to be a gentleman by the name of T'sai Lun:

http://www.edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension_42_11.html

RedFox

Don't forget that the Vikings beat Columbus to the Americas. And of course the natives beat both of them there.

Endymion

Islander natives, Hawaiians, Luau-Luau Folks, Whatchamacallit = Polynesians

sequoias

Interesting that I read that Chinese people invented paper about 1,500 years ago. We still have lot we don't know about history, though.

pek1

I remember this discussion from 5th grade and we, as students, were presented the evidence as to who discovered America. I had decided, based on the evidence, that the Native Americans discovered America, this is their country and still is, in its entirety, 100 percent.

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deafclimber

TRUE ! i agree with pek1. we do ignore the fact that those native americans that were here before Columbus. how sad it is...

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sr171soars

There were probably people here before the Americans Indians. The American Indians did not originate from here...they came from Asia. As for others before them, it was probably a small scale thing and they either didn't survive the onslaught or they simply merged into these groups.

There is so much history we do not know and probably will never know. There is lots of evidence that shows people did travel much further than we thought. The ancients were not stupid or lack understanding. They had some pretty sophisicated skills that are astounding to this day. Some examples are the Pyramids, the Mayan Calendar and on it goes.

There is the thought the Phoenicians did make it to America long before either the Vikings or Columbus. They were incredible in their seamanship and it is not out of the realm of possibility that they could have done so.

One has to keep an open mind...

Miss-Delectable

How true! Australia likes to claim that the English founded Australia when in fact, it was the Spaniards, Dutch and Portuguese and even Chinese who saw Australia first. But they didn't inhabit here for long.

It's interesting to note how the world was merged before, which is how our original inhabitants from whether US or Australia came from other places, but have since claimed their lands as their own.

People are fickle with information and they have very fickle memory.

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Miss-Delectable

Yeah, Leif 'the red' Ericksson found US, I think.

The Chinese are very inventive people and it's not surprising they'd created paper and spaghetti before any other.

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Rose Immortal

Not to sound stupid, but we do have proof of the Viking landings in the U.S., correct? Did we prove conclusively that Leif Erikson (sp?) was here?

There'll probably need to be more proof for other landings, though...not out of doubt of the capabilities of any of these groups, but just for certainty's sake.

GalaxyAngel

I believe the white people doesn't want written the history about Leif Erkson and rest other cultures' historian information.. Likely for example DeafClimber's comment about China's history really very oldest year and have information more than white people..

White people always think their own lands not Indian native people's property.. Few years ago, found out that Indian native's archive roll paper says it's OWN INDIAN PROPERTY OF LAND.. Gov't really huge embrassement and send them quarrel and money.. Doesn't want them know rest other people see or hear..
Went Quiet quicker..

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Rose Immortal

GalaxyAngel--Please be careful with your comment about white people; it borders on racist. And yes, racism and stereotyping against white people is still racism, which is wrong regardless of WHO does it AGAINST WHOM. I don't care.

Just the same way, with historical facts, all I care about, for what gets included in the history books, is ACCURACY. Whatever is proven conclusively should be put in the history books. If that means Vikings, Chinese, or green men from Mars, I don't care. I just want to see the proof. That's the only fair way to do it. Prove it and I'll accept it. Don't prove it and I won't believe it.

Chajukin

Dutch found Australia in 1624.

Then Captain Cook came here in 1777 and settled land.

rjr2006

very interesting!

RedFox

Here's a site on the Viking places in Newfoundland with pictures of Viking stuff they found and reconstructions of their homes.

Opal

I read a newspaper and tv news that someone found few anicent coins here, it was confirmed that it arrived here long before Captain Cook's. I can't farthom which country was it from - I think Spain?

Umm, historians decided not to bother to re-write history again as we leave as it is, the same will apply to American history too.

VamPyroX

Uh oh... if this is really true, then this really isn't America. It's really China II!!! Eek!

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Opal

Lucky you American dont speak cantonese!! hee hee

Opal

And Maori New Zealanders.

Opal

Pek1's quote
Yes the same here too, Australia belongs to the Aboriginals, until Captain Cook took over!!

I believe Australia belongs to every one who comes to live here as multi-cultural country same with America, its belongs to the new generation of US citizens all equal.

Rose Immortal

RedFox...thanks for the Viking reading! I can't believe I forgot about that settlement!

Tamara, I agree with you. We can't punish children descended from non Native American parents who had no choice about being born in this country. We MUST show respect to the cultures of those who were here first, of course, but I think it's a bit too late to put the genie back into the bottle as far as sending all of the non-Native Americans home.

GalaxyAngel

I ain't careful..I just want to let you know...
which I've seen so many written the history.. Why can't they written being honestly.. Sumth'n hiding..
All I want seek truth what important history 100% not 40% sufficiant information. That why.. Im not here for againist racisit.. I'm here open heart and welcome all colors but problem is.. some people who still obession their own skin againist racist.. which it's totally horrible what did people told to you about their history.. which it's WRONG information alikely "Bogus stories". Pretty diffculities hard find truth.. Only the way is. bible .. Yes there's speaking truth that's all I've known...

My hubby mentioned about "Wha.. about monk did kept secret about discovered the truth more than written history issues bible and doesn't want written about woman who involved.. " Sound alike only focus "MEN" ?? That what his opnion.. Pretty intereting his philoshpy(sp). (my hubby)

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Rose Immortal

GA--My point with what I said is, you seem to think all white people are involved in some kind of vast conspiracy to hide history. That comes close to accusing all white people of being liars...which I believe is a stereotype and a prejudice.

As far as I'm concerned, any history that is proven conclusively should be reported and I don't care about race issues--I care about facts.

GalaxyAngel

Yeah.. Agreed!
so am I

Depend people tend to use "conspiracy their hide history" probably their reason avoid embrassement. SAD!

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pek1

Rose Immortal,

GalaxyAngel wasn't making a racist comment. Unfortunately, it's people such as yourself that request proof, time and time again and refuse to believe the proof that has been presented, the same information, time and time again. The proof is a matter of public record. I suggest you look it up for yourself. While you're at it, look up the "Trail of Tears" and see what you come up with.

If there is anyone on this website that is Native American or knows anyone who is, send them in RI's direction, as she is needing to be educated.

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