[August 2011] In 1434, Gavin Menzies provides an Chinese-centric history of the renaissance. This is a follow up to 1421 in which China is seen as having early contact with the American continent. Eventually bureaucracy shut down the grand explorations and Europe went on to assume its role as great explorer and innovator.
The stories presented are roundly criticized by historians for not being factual. However, the arguments do have a strong element of plausibility. Perhaps the real truth is somewhere in between. China obviously provided some inspiration to Europe. (Nobody discounts Marco Polo). There could have been much greater connections that were simply lost in the historical record. (People would much rather have appeared to come up with something on their own than to have copied it.)
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