According to the English author Gavin Menzies, the Chinese Muslim captain Zheng He, during his expeditions from 1421 to 1423, discovered Australia, New Zealand, America, Antarctica, and the Northern Passage, circumnavigating the globe before Magellan and pre-dating Columbus in finding America. Could this really have happened?
The claim of Zheng He's discovery of the American continent was quickly refuted by Western sources. They argue that a Muslim seafarer couldn't have undertaken such a journey; is this really the case?
Who is Zheng He?
Zheng He (1371-1433) was a child brought into the Chinese court as a eunuch. Due to his intelligence, he rose to prominence and was appointed as the Admiral of the Chinese fleet by the Emperor. He was a Muslim of Chinese descent.
During these years, the Chinese Emperor commissioned an enormous fleet of 317 ships to secure their presence in the Indian Ocean and showcase China's power to the world. He entrusted Admiral Zheng He, his most loyal confidant, with this mission. The scale of Zheng He's ship and the assembled fleet was so vast that the world wouldn't see such a massive fleet until World War II.
Zheng He's fleet consisted of enormous ships. These sturdy vessels, along with a crew totaling 27,870, carried various gifts and provisions. The ships were capable of circumnavigating the globe and were equipped accordingly. According to official records, this fleet conducted port visits, engaged in inter-country trade, and cleared pirates in the Indian Ocean. But was there more?
It is assumed that Zheng He and his ships sailed around the entire world, creating detailed maps. It's claimed that he discovered and mapped the coast of present-day California in the USA, visited and mapped Australia, with claims that explorers like James Cook and Magellan might have used Zheng He's maps.
Chinese maps dating back to 1428 depicting these locations have been found. The presence of Asian crops like the chicken, maize, potato, and coconut in both Asia and the Americas is cited as evidence. Additionally, research has found DNA similarities between Native Americans and Chinese. Furthermore, skeletons attributed to Chinese individuals and remnants of Chinese ships have been discovered in California and Los Angeles.
While Western sources attribute these claims to a significant Chinese migration to America in the 17th century, modern research suggests that Zheng He indeed discovered the American continent. In fact, in the Library of Congress in the United States, there is a map from the era of Kublai Khan that depicts the American continent, with Zheng He being cited as the evidence for correcting the longitude inaccuracies on this map and credited with the discovery of America.
Today, it's becoming evident that, despite Western attempts to assert superiority, the truths are gradually coming to light through history.
Post a Comment