1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance

Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of 1421 offers another stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new evidence that traces the roots of the European Renaissance to Chinese exploration in the fifteenth century The brilliance of the Renaissance laid the foundation of the modern world. Textbooks tell us that it came about as a result of a rediscovery of the ideas and ideals of classical Greece and Rome. But now bestselling historian Gavin Menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434, China-then the world's most technologically advanced civilization-provided the spark that set the European Renaissance ablaze. From that date onward, Europeans embraced Chinese intellectual ideas, discoveries, and inventions, all of which form the basis of western civilization today. Florence and Venice of the early fifteenth century were hubs of world trade, attracting traders from across the globe. Based on years of research, this marvelous history argues that a Chinese fleet-official ambassadors of the emperor-arrived in Tuscany in 1434, where they were received by Pope Eugenius IV in Florence.

Editorial Reviews

The author of the best-selling 1421 claims that 13 years later Chinese ambassadors arrived in Italy, bearing ideas that changed the West. Reading group guide. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Author Information

Bio of Gavin Menzies

The author of 1421: The Year China Discovered America, Gavin Menzies was born in England 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. Since leaving the Royal Navy, he has returned to China and Asia many times, and in the course of his research, he has visited 120 countries, more than 900 museums and libraries, and every major seaport of the late Middle Ages. Menzies is married with two daughters and lives in North London.

Customer Reviews

There are no customer reviews available at this time. To add your review, Register or Sign In to your account using our free eBook Library Software.

Additional Info

Imprint

William Morrow &Company

Filesize

6.45 MB

Number of Pages

384

eBook ISBN

9780061687044