Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Captn Kidd · 01-14-2003, 03:32 PM

I'd be interested in people's opinions on this:

cnn.com story

The CNN story has a link to the book's site. Basically, it claims to have evidence for Chinese travel beyond the Cape of Good Hope and extensive travel in the America's prior to Columbus.

I've long believed that ancient and/or historical peoples were generally capable of doing more than we generally give them credit for, and that sailing oceans takes much less technology than most modern people think. Thoughts?

cfgauss · 01-14-2003, 08:56 PM

The Vikings were here before, too.

Wyz_sub10 · 01-14-2003, 10:16 PM

The Chinese fleet was certainly well enough equipped to the task, but my understanding is that during those years (around 1405-1430) the Chinese were exploring the Indian Ocean and eastern coast of Africa.

Boro Nut · 01-15-2003, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captn Kidd
Chinese discovering America?

Why not? They can afford foreign holidays nowadays.

Boro Nut

Kosh · 01-15-2003, 06:30 AM

I saw this too, but the last time I brought up the possibility of an earlier s. American connection (including the "cocaine mummies" of Egypt), I was slapped down by Vork, who has much better information on it. Hopefully he will show up...

tk · 01-15-2003, 07:51 AM

Interesting news. Chinese emperors seemed to have the habit of destroying historical records every now and then, so I won't be too surprised. Then again, I'm a skeptical Chinese.

If the claim's true, I'm curious about what the ancient Chinese called their newly-discovered lands by.

Answerer · 01-15-2003, 08:04 AM

Haha, its so funny. I recalled that its just a month ago, I heard some muslims talking about the same 'fact' that they were the first to discover America. I even had the websites they recommended posted on the BA&C forums.But the point is discovery without exploition is practically useless except maybe for the satisfaction of curiousity or cultural exchange.

Rousseau_CHN · 01-18-2003, 03:10 PM

Really? So why are the (American)Indians not wearing silk?
No Ming Vase, no paper, no ceramics...no discovery.

Jesse · 01-18-2003, 05:06 PM

Here's a good critical article on this book from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/ma...2bfc8a&ei=5034

Kosh · 01-18-2003, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rousseau_CHN
Really? So why are the (American)Indians not wearing silk?
No Ming Vase, no paper, no ceramics...no discovery.

You know those Apache, they thought the catapillars tasted REAL good....

01-14-2003, 03:32 PM	#1
Captn Kidd Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 166	Chinese discovering America? I'd be interested in people's opinions on this: cnn.com story The CNN story has a link to the book's site. Basically, it claims to have evidence for Chinese travel beyond the Cape of Good Hope and extensive travel in the America's prior to Columbus. I've long believed that ancient and/or historical peoples were generally capable of doing more than we generally give them credit for, and that sailing oceans takes much less technology than most modern people think. Thoughts?

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01-14-2003, 08:56 PM	#2
cfgauss Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 108	The Vikings were here before, too.

01-14-2003, 10:16 PM	#3
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	The Chinese fleet was certainly well enough equipped to the task, but my understanding is that during those years (around 1405-1430) the Chinese were exploring the Indian Ocean and eastern coast of Africa.

01-15-2003, 06:30 AM	#5
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	I saw this too, but the last time I brought up the possibility of an earlier s. American connection (including the "cocaine mummies" of Egypt), I was slapped down by Vork, who has much better information on it. Hopefully he will show up...

01-15-2003, 07:51 AM	#6
tk Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 158	Interesting news. Chinese emperors seemed to have the habit of destroying historical records every now and then, so I won't be too surprised. Then again, I'm a skeptical Chinese. If the claim's true, I'm curious about what the ancient Chinese called their newly-discovered lands by.

01-15-2003, 08:04 AM	#7
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Haha, its so funny. I recalled that its just a month ago, I heard some muslims talking about the same 'fact' that they were the first to discover America. I even had the websites they recommended posted on the BA&C forums.But the point is discovery without exploition is practically useless except maybe for the satisfaction of curiousity or cultural exchange.

01-18-2003, 03:10 PM	#8
Rousseau_CHN Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nowhere Land Posts: 441	Really? So why are the (American)Indians not wearing silk? No Ming Vase, no paper, no ceramics...no discovery.

01-18-2003, 05:06 PM	#9
Jesse Moderator - Science Discussions Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Providence, RI, USA Posts: 9,908	Here's a good critical article on this book from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/ma...2bfc8a&ei=5034

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