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1421: The Year China Discovered America Audiobook
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(3.00) - 5,464 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On March 8, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China. Its mission was "to proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas" and unite the whole world in Confucian harmony.
When it returned in October 1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving China in political and economic chaos. The great ships were left to rot at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost in China's long, self-imposed isolation that followed was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America seventy years before Columbus and had circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. Also concealed was how the Chinese colonized America before the Europeans and transplanted in America and other countries the principal economic crops that have fed and clothed the world.
Unveiling incontrovertible evidence of these astonishing voyages, 1421 rewrites our understanding of history. Our knowledge of world exploration as it has been commonly accepted for centuries must now be reconceived due to this landmark work of historical investigation.
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"Unbelievably well researched account of the voyages of the Chinese treasure ship fleets in the early Ming dynasty. He proves beyond much doubt that the fleets methodically explored, mapped and landed colonies around the Americas 70 years before Columbus and that Columbus had maps showing, at least, some of the Caribbean islands before he set sail. Later Chinese rulers purposely destroyed almost all the evidence of these voyages 100 years later, which accounts for the erroneous credit given to early European explorers."
— Craig (5 out of 5 stars)
1421 Listener Reviews
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" Wish I could remember who I loaned this too .... Would live to re-read it !!! "
— Saul, 2/18/2014 -
" An astonishing mountain's-worth of evidence that the Chinese sailed, not just to America, but all over the world, well before Columbus. It was an exciting book--you could tell the author loved his project. "
— Graham, 2/13/2014 -
" I thought that this was the most interesting history book that I have ever read. Who knew that the Chinese discovered America! "
— Foggygirl, 2/3/2014 -
" Does go on a bit and some of the evidence is a bit spurious, native foxes mating with introduced (chinese) dogs in South America. Some of the evidence of wrecks in Australia seems a bit inconclusive. When he imagines the history and writes of the adventures of Chinese exploration is when it is best. "
— James, 2/1/2014 -
" Its so hard to rate this book- the first half is a 4 or 5, but the last half is a 2 at best. Very interesting hypothesis- it really convinces you that the Chinese did connect not only with the middle east, but the eastern coast of Africa. It stretches pretty far after that. Of course, I read this book when I'd had a broken jaw with my mouth wired shut and in a lot of pain, so I could have completely misjudged it. Oh, well. "
— Briapedia, 1/27/2014 -
" An enjoyable history with fascinating info about navigation, sailing, and maps written for the layman. And so much for European hegemony. "
— Amanda, 1/19/2014 -
" This book is really dragging. I hope I can get through it. "
— Alan, 11/1/2013 -
" Interesting hypothesis...but no hard evidence. If you think this book sounds interesting, read the Wikipedia article on the subject and save yourself some major time! "
— Trisha, 9/23/2013 -
" Interesting at first, then got repetitive "
— Gail, 8/25/2013 -
" fascinating, a little slow in parts. It could have been shorter and just as good. "
— Erin, 8/22/2013 -
" I have not yet (5/18/11) finished this book but what I have read so far has been FASCINATING! "
— Mont'ster, 8/21/2013 -
" Menzies has a pretty convincing circumstantial case here; it makes a lot of sense. "
— Wood, 8/3/2013 -
" This book made me question my entire education. "
— Laura, 7/13/2013 -
" Magical history that ensures that with research history is still being told. "
— Katie, 1/27/2013 -
" This book will give you much to think about when it comes to exploration. "
— Dad, 11/18/2012 -
" Questionable findings expressed here. One must read it with some skepticism "
— Alan, 7/23/2012 -
" As an Asian, I love what it implies and I want to give 5 stars, but there's a part of me that's still a skeptic. Other than that I love the research and the what ifs... that come up with this book. "
— Jennifer, 4/29/2012 -
" Heavy going in places purely because of the mass of evidence but fascinating and convincing reading. "
— Neil, 5/30/2011 -
" A tome of a book 490 pages, with a further 130 in the appendix - but well researched and incredibly detailed. Facts I never heard of. "
— A.J., 5/19/2011 -
" Reading this here and there when I can sneak in a chapter....belongs to my husband and he's reading it too! Rarely do I read nonfiction. This nonfiction is irresistible. "
— Jacque, 5/17/2011 -
" I do not buy off on a lot of his assumptions. However, he goes a long way in dispelling the euro centric myth that america was somehow discovered by the brilliance of one man. "
— Soli, 5/15/2011 -
" I found this very interesting and plausible. There is much controversy about his findings, but a good read and provocative. "
— Scott, 4/27/2011 -
" I have not yet (5/18/11) finished this book but what I have read so far has been FASCINATING! "
— Mont'ster, 4/26/2011 -
" Fascinating theory that a Chinese explorer found the south American continent 70 years before Columbus. Lots of interesting circumstantial evidence, but no confirmation. What if China had not retreated, but instead, had colonized California? "
— Jeff, 4/17/2011 -
" complete garbage. if i could give 0 stars i would. "
— Lucas, 4/11/2011 -
" Can modern American history actually be this incorrect? Amazing factual information. "
— jeff, 3/29/2011 -
" I found Menzie thesis interesting and the book entertaining. "
— Rick, 3/8/2011 -
" It sounded very interesting but I couldn't get past the terrible writing. It's too bad as the book is very well researched. I kept hoping it was just one or two paragraphs of unreadability but nope.... "
— Penny, 3/4/2011 -
" Heavy going in places purely because of the mass of evidence but fascinating and convincing reading. "
— Neil, 2/13/2011
About Gavin Menzies
Gavin Menzies was born in 1937 and lived in China for two years before the Second World War. He joined the Royal Navy in 1953 and served in submarines from 1959 to 1970. In the course of researching 1421, he visited 120 countries, over 900 museums and libraries, and every major sea port of the late Middle Ages. He is married with two daughters and lives in North London.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.