A retired British naval officer Menzies yesterday with a new book "1421: China discovered the world" -- a so-called "Trainspotting" Rewriting the history of the world came to Shanghai book city. In this book, Menzies spent 14 years writing the book, he put forward a lot of ground breaking conclusions. He thinks, Chinese Zheng He was the first person to sail around the world. Chinese discovered America, 70 years earlier than the Kolumb; discovered Australia, before Captain Cook 350 years; at the Strait of Magellan, than the day of birth was a Jia zi! Although, viewpoint, it suffered from criticism, but this did not affect the book sale.
Three arguments supporting ideas
At yesterday's conference, Menzies very confidently to Hushang media, that he provides evidence "be above suspicion doubt", can prove his conclusion. In order to prove this point of view, Menzies did a lot of investigation, tracking Zheng He's fleet in the global route, footmark pervades 120 countries, visited 900 libraries, archives and museums, also visited the main ports all late medieval world.
Menzies was found, Zheng He fleet arrived in Latin America, the Caribbean in the sixth voyage, finally arrived in Australia, the voyage, but Zheng He himself did not experience the world, is his two followers in sixth voyage to sail to the bottom.
The three arguments to support their views: one is the various map, chart, nautical chart data. The two is the local relevant records and relics left behind, for example, he found a piece of stone in Cape Verde, the text above shows, Chinese or Asians had earlier than the Europeans had come here. Three is a species of similar. He said, two Peru experts through research, found that DNA and Cantonese Native American similar, at the same time, the Ming Dynasty palace in the kangaroo, but China also appeared in the American corn.
Bad comments contributed to the book sale
Menzies is the first in a symposium announced his discovery, in 2002, his book published in the United Kingdom, the first print run of 100000 copies, followed by the United States in 200000 volumes, the world more than 60 countries and regions have been published, simplified Chinese version is the sixty-sixth version, the total sales break million copies. With the publication of various aspects, blow on the face and come, especially the criticism.
Menzies very frankly told reporters, view a, many people have criticized him, press is dumbfounded, once in the first quarter of 2003 survey, evaluation of the book actually got "5 trash" that the worst. But let Menzies gratified is, like the storm hit the criticism, but let the book sell. Now, the world almost every 40 seconds to sell a. Menzies also set up a website, the daily average of 1000 people to write to him, 99.4% people agreed with his views. Even until now, both China and the west, there are still many scholars do not agree with him, but Menzies said, now the opposition is not much.
Work has been Hollywood phase
Let Menzies joy, "1421: China discovered the world" has been Hollywood phase. In the advertisement, a such words: Hollywood has invested heavily in the book turned into the epic. In the preface to the Chinese version of the book, also specially invited to Hollywood movie producer Samantha Olsen wrote a preface. He had bought the film rights producer said, the hidden story more than 600 years, now is the time to show the world. Their phase is the story of the legend.
At present, the film is the selection of the directors and actors. At a press conference at the scene, reporters and even hear a piece of music, it is reported, the music is the music producer after reading the book, the flash in my mind music, is likely to appear in the movie.