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 Gavin Menzies provides over-due revisionist research on Chinese influence in Europe October 20, 2008
E. Lighthart (Wien)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
'1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance' is the much-awaited sequel to the international best seller '1421: The Year China discovered the World' by Gavin Menzies. Mr. Menzies presents evidence that boldly supports his hypotheses concerning the scientific and epistemological advances that occurred in Europe during the waning years of the Middle Ages. The author traces the progress of the embassy sent by the Xuande Emperor (Zhu Zhanji, reigned 1425-1435) in 1430 to inform the world of the quelling of internal troubles that had plagued China for nearly a decade. With the Zuanzong Shi-lu (the imperial edict issued by the Xuande Emperor) in hand, the intrepid admiral and explorer, Zheng He, set sail for the West. From this starting point, Mr. Menzies traces the route of the Chinese from Nanjing to the Red Sea, thence to Cairo, and finally to Venice. Upon arriving in Venice, the embassy traveled to Florence, which was then emerging as a principal center of culture and learning in Renaissance Europe. Mr. Menzies furthers his hypotheses in noting that the Chinese, in the progress of the Xuande Emperor's embassy, imparted knowledge and wisdom that influenced the works of such 15th century luminaries as the mathematician-astronomer, Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, the engineer, Mariano di Jacopo "il Taccola", and Leonardo da Vinci. It was this contact with the Chinese and the knowledge they imparted that engendered a new direction in European epistemology that significantly influenced the future course of the Renaissance. br / br /Mr. Menzies works have come under criticism by those armchair critics who alacritously respond with the acumen of an ill-informed dilettante to what is erroneously perceived as specious hypotheses and flawed research. Quite the contrary: Mr. Menzies supports his hypotheses with consummate skill and address; and, in doing so has presented a work of significant importance. This cogently written work will take the lay reader on a journey of adventure, discovery, and edification; the academic will value the new fields for revisionist research that Gavin Menzies has discovered. br / br /Edward Lighthart, BA, AM, PhD br /Praesident und Geschaeftsfuehrer br /EF Lighthart GmbH (WIEN) br /
Great book October 18, 2008
Ben Gardiner (San Francisco)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
A great book. But it was not well folded by its first owner, all leaning on one side.
 Interesting idea October 13, 2008
BobTheReader
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Though the facts weren't substantiated, the book made an interesting read. Lots of history and details about the time period.
Good but not great October 9, 2008
Denis Pombriant (Boston, MA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
You have to view this book in relation to the first in the series, 1421. The earlier book was part history, part who-done-it and it served up an interesting mix of both. This book, 1434, carries on in the same tradition with some flaws that affect enjoyment. It reads too much like a historical detective story and, in my opinion, spends too much effort on trying to prove the author is 'right' about his major thesis that the Chinese visited Europe many times before and certainly in 1434. And, most importantly, that a great knowledge transfew took place. It also seems like the book was written quickly (though well) to capitalize on the success of 1421 with a sequel. br / br /Like 1421, 1434 provides some plausible explanations for known but not well understood phenomena. It is not possible to argue that the Renaissance did not take place, but many people have wondered for many years how such a small collection of city states in Italy could start such a massive explosion of knowledge. Moreover, how could one untutored painter, Leonardo, have 'invented' so many things, especially war machines. The conclusion that 1434 draws is maybe he didn't. Perhaps he was copying from a more ancient culture that had developed real science. It is much the same argument that Gavin Menzies made in 1421, that Columbus knew where he was going (so did Magellan) because he had a copy of a Chinese map. I am persuaded by Menzies scholarship. I just wish the story was told a little more elegantly.
Fascinating Book About a Little Known Chapter of History. September 27, 2008
Steven Woodcock (Colorado Springs, CO United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Like his previous book, 1421, this book focuses on the exploits of the Chinese treasure fleets and how they explored the world (1421) and helped spark the European Renaissance (1434). Fascinating stuff, extremely well documented, a great read much like a good mystery. br / br /This book is perhaps a bit "denser" than the earlier book and not as well written, in my opinion. Part of that is the subject matter--it's simply not as "grand" as the first book--and part of that is that the book feels somewhat rushed. br / br /Nevertheless this is an EXCELLENT book about a little known chapter of history. VERY RECOMMENDED!
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