1421 — the year when China opened the world

The period of the Great Geographic Discoveries is one of the most important stages in the history of Civilization, but even in the 21st century, do we know everything about the discoverers of various continents? Were Columbus and Magellan really the first in their travels and discoveries? Or did it happen much earlier? The sensational book by Gavin Menzies 1937–2020 tells about the beginning of the Great Geographic Discoveries, while, according to the author's theory, the Chinese sailors of Admiral Zheng He were 100 years ahead of their European counterparts. The most grandiose Chinese expedition, composed of four fleets, began in 1421. In 2003, this book became a bestseller according to the New York Times, was translated into dozens of languages, and the total circulation exceeded 1,000,000 copies! Who would have thought that in the era of the Ming dynasty, Chinese sailors were the first to discover Australia, New Zealand, America, Antarctica, and the Northeast Passage? Is it possible that the Chinese made a circumnavigation of the globe as early as the 15th century? Could medieval Chinese ships have reached Greenland and the North and South Poles? Did China have the corresponding potential and material and technical capabilities for circumnavigation expeditions in the first quarter of the 15th century? The last of the ships that survived the distant sea voyages returned to China in the fall of 1423. There is almost no evidence of where and why these ships traveled, only maps discovered by the author confirm the Chinese trace in the Great Geographic Discoveries. Gavin Menzies' hypotheses still provoke fierce debates among scholars. Many consider his book an alternative history, but whether it is or not is for readers to decide. For his significant contribution to the promotion of Chinese culture, Menzies was awarded the title of honorary professor at Yunnan University in China.