1421 by Gavin Menzies

I think that I am finished reading Gavin Menzies' “1421 – The Year China Discovered America”. Not that I have completed the book, but I've reached the point where I am no longer interested in reading.

Mr. Menzies starts with an intriguing premise: The Chinese, with the large economy they had at the start of the 15th century, coupled with their ship-building know-how (they actually built sectioned boats that could have two compartments flooded and still stay afloat!) and their desire for trade led them to sail to the America's both across the Pacific and the Atlantic in advance of Columbus.

Mr. Menzies uses his knowledge of the sea and its ways (he was a Captain in the Royal Navy), along with an understanding of how a man standing on a ship deck would view the land and chart it; this has led him to believe that charts of the world that pre-date Columbus sailing were in fact copied from Chinese charts – and coupled with artifacts found around the world constitute proof that the Chinese were there first.

Claiming first arrival is difficult. Although we have the recorded history of Columbus' voyages, we now know that the Polynesians crossed large expanses of the Pacific ahead of Columbus (and Magellan) settling most of the larger Pacific islands. It actually is not unreasonable that they may have sailed from Hawaii and Easter on to North and South America, respectively. And, given what we are learning about the Chinese capabilities during the latter 14th and early 15th century, they may very well have, too.

And those charts: The Portuguese had charts in their possession that showed lands across the Atlantic. We know the apocryphal stories of Columbus to be untrue: It wasn't that the majority believed the world to be flat, they knew it to be round, and further, 15th century Europeans, from contact with the Greeks and the Arabs, knew approximately how big it was. It wasn't that Columbus would fall off – he would run out of provisions attempting to cross the large expanse of sea that must lie between Europe and India. So, if Columbus had a chart that indicated an intermediary land where he could re-provision...

Mr. Menzies gets kudos for his explanations of the charts, how a 15th century seaman would have charted the land he saw, for his explanations of ocean currents and prevailing winds, and the effects they would have had on a square-rigged Chinese junk. Kudos too for explaining how ocean currents would change a charter's perspective, and cause them to draw Africa the right height (north-south), but fore-shorten it's western bulge due to a current heading west along it's coast.

And kudos too for his explanation of how the Chinese built survey posts to record a lunar eclipse, and hence charted the east coast of Africa, all of India, and China accurately not only in latitude but longitude.

But, Gavin Menzies is no historian. He starts repeating himself, and he jumps to conclusions. He finds evidence of an ancient wreck in San Francisco Bay, and concludes “I'm convinced it was the Chinese”. He finds similarities between some Mayan ceremonies and Chinese ceremonies, and concludes “I'm convinced it was the Chinese.” He finds evidence of a shipwreck in Australia, and concludes “It could only have been the Chinese.”

When an author starts promoting his view, his conclusion, without exploring alternative explanations, my internal warning flags go off. And when his conclusion is based on the barest of evidence and minimal cross-support, I start to doubt. And then, when his conclusion appears to be a leap, with nothing more than “I'm certain it could only be...”, showing a lack of imagination, I'm forced to discard his conclusion as unproven.

I'm sympathetic to Mr. Menzies and his ideas. Given some of the things I've outlined, plus others, I wonder that our accepted view of history may still be a little off, a little Euro-centered. I wonder if someday in the future we may find evidence that the population of the Americas wasn't just a migration following the crossing of the Bering Foot-Bridge, but was accomplished by other means as well. That before the Europeans crossed the Atlantic and sailed the world that other peoples had sailed there before. That the people of Australia, New Zealand, and maybe even China were aware of the Antarctic and South America and the animals unique to those regions long before Shackleton.

But, these ideas remain only possibilities. Gavin Menzies has not proven them.

Bumper Sticker Watch

"If only closed minds came with closed mouths"

A Cloak for Facebook

I ran across this at slashdot this morning, and wanted to make the story available to those who don't seek out news in geekland...

Privacy Plug-In Fakes Out Facebook

The article is primarily about hiding sensitive information on Facebook, but they raise some really good points that people should consider before sharing (and sometimes virtually baring) all...Good info for all of us as we adapt to online technology.

The President Speaks...

A friend of mine put it very succinctly:

"There are plenty of presidents I've disagreed with, but not one I wouldn't want my kids to have an opportunity to hear."

I agree fully. I think that our current and each of our past Presidents have been uncommon men - an uncommon mixture of talent, will, and vision. The opportunity to listen to such an individual doesn't happen every day.

Yet, due to unreasonable paranoia (and partisanship!), many children will likely be denied the opportunity Tuesday.

They'll miss more than just his words: They'll miss listening to a man who became their nation's President not through heredity, not through military coup or fiat, but by doing his studies when young, seeking and gaining acceptance to Harvard's Law School, building and honing his knowledge, leadership and oratory at every step of the way. They'll miss listening to a living example of what in America is possible.

(Thanks, Mike.)

Indoctrination

My son is being indoctrinated. Five days a week I send him off to school, where he spends more time with his teacher than he does with me. 30 hours a week of learning from someone else.

I don't worry too much. We talk every day about what he learned. I figure that if his teacher is straying from the published curriculum, I'll eventually hear about it. My son and I then have the opportunity to talk - something we already do. Although I believe that his teachers have an advantage of training, and will introduce and help him gain proficiency in his subjects much more effectively than I, I still feel that I am part of the equation. So I help him with his homework, and we talk regularly about our ideals. About what it means to be a moral person.

And I see him growing into the sort of person I'd like him to be.

So it didn't fill me with dread when I heard that our President was going to speak to our school children. "What a neat thing to do!" I thought. It will likely make an impression on his young mind - probably much more that the President took the time to speak over anything that might be said.

And if it does make an impression, it is something we will likely talk about when I get home from work. If the President talks about education, about my son's role in accepting responsibility for his education, that he can't just depend on others to do it for him; that education is a good thing and if pursued diligently will enhance my son's life; that he must look to his parents and within himself to really grow, then it will be a very positive experience.

And, if for some reason the President does deviate into other topics about government, about government's role in our lives, then we have that as a springboard for discussion as well. I may disagree, and that could be a very powerful moment ("Wow, Dad, you disagree with the President?" "Yes, eventually I'm bound to disagree with everyone, including the President. And here's why...")

As much as I can stay involved, and hopefully teach him to evaluate, to search for supporting evidence, then I don't have to worry that he is being indoctrinated at all. He's being educated.

And he's going to grow up and move into the world where he will daily hear people speak and have to determine the truth or falsehood of what they are saying. Better he should start now.

With me by his side.

Aspire to Inspire

Sometimes, it's just good to remember what we wish to do:

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William A. Ward