1421: A Book Review

Gavin Menzies’ 1421: The Year China Discovered America
A Book Review by Aunt Clara

If you are interested in a different take on Columbus Day, you might consider reading 1421: The Year China Discovered America.  This is a challenging look at global history, combining the maritime knowledge of the author with bold historical speculation. While its central thesis has sparked considerable debate, the book is a persuasive story for those of us intrigued by alternative history and the mysteries of the past.

Menzies is a former British Royal Navy submarine commander, and he argues that Chinese admiral Zheng He’s treasure fleets not only reached Africa and the Indian Ocean (as accepted by many historians) but also sailed to the Americas, Australia, and even circumnavigated the globe nearly a century before Magellan. If this claim is true, it could radically change our understanding of global exploration.

The book opens with an account of the Ming Dynasty’s naval ambitions. Menzies describes how Emperor Zhu Di commissioned vast fleets of huge junks to increase Chinese power and collect tribute. These expeditions, led by Zheng He, are well-documented through seven voyages between 1405 and 1433. However, Menzies asserts that in 1421, a secret mission was launched to explore the entire world, and that the evidence of this journey was lost due to later political upheavals in China.

Menzies’ uses maps, shipwrecks, DNA studies, linguistic similarities, and architectural ruins to support his theory. For example, he points to Chinese-style artifacts found in Peru and California.  He also claims that Chinese sailors intermarried with indigenous peoples, leaving genetic traces.

Critics, however, have challenged the book’s conclusions. Many historians argue that Menzies relies too heavily on circumstantial evidence. The lack of primary Chinese records documenting such a global voyage is a major problem. Scholars also question the interpretation of maps and artifacts, suggesting that Menzies reads too much into ambiguous information.

All the same, you may find that 1421 is both a provocative theory and a good detective story.  For readers who enjoy historical mysteries, maritime tales, and the thrill of rewriting the past, Menzies’ book offers an entertaining journey. Whether or not we accept its conclusions, 1421 reminds us that history is not fixed; it is a changing picture shaped by new discoveries and bold questions.