Columbus debunker sets sights on Leonardo da Vinci
Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:58pm EDT - http:/www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL242804420080729
LONDON (Reuters) - Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of machines are uncannily similar to Chinese originals and were undoubtedly derived from them, a British amateur historian says in a newly-published book.
Gavin Menzies sparked headlines across the globe in 2002 with the claim that Chinese sailors reached America 70 years before Christopher Columbus.
Now he says a Chinese fleet brought encyclopedias of technology undiscovered by the West to Italy in 1434, laying the foundation for the engineering marvels such as flying machines later drawn by Italian polymath Leonardo.
"Everything known to the Chinese by the year 1430 was brought to Venice," said Menzies, a retired Royal Navy submarine commander, in an interview at his north London home.
From Venice, a Chinese ambassador went to Florence and presented the material to Pope Eugenius IV, Menzies says.
"I argue in the book that this was the spark that really ignited the renaissance and that Leonardo and (Italian astronomer) Galileo built on what was brought to them by the Chinese.
"Leonardo basically redrew everything in three dimensions, which made a vast improvement."
If accepted, the claim would force an "agonizing reappraisal of the Eurocentric view of history", Menzies says in his book "1434: The Year A Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed To Italy and Ignited The Renaissance". Continued...
http:/www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL242804420080729
http:/www.reuters.com/news/pictures/articleslideshow?articleId=USL242804420080729&channelName=scienceNews#a=4
Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:58pm EDT - http:/www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL242804420080729
LONDON (Reuters) - Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of machines are uncannily similar to Chinese originals and were undoubtedly derived from them, a British amateur historian says in a newly-published book.
Gavin Menzies sparked headlines across the globe in 2002 with the claim that Chinese sailors reached America 70 years before Christopher Columbus.
Now he says a Chinese fleet brought encyclopedias of technology undiscovered by the West to Italy in 1434, laying the foundation for the engineering marvels such as flying machines later drawn by Italian polymath Leonardo.
"Everything known to the Chinese by the year 1430 was brought to Venice," said Menzies, a retired Royal Navy submarine commander, in an interview at his north London home.
From Venice, a Chinese ambassador went to Florence and presented the material to Pope Eugenius IV, Menzies says.
"I argue in the book that this was the spark that really ignited the renaissance and that Leonardo and (Italian astronomer) Galileo built on what was brought to them by the Chinese.
"Leonardo basically redrew everything in three dimensions, which made a vast improvement."
If accepted, the claim would force an "agonizing reappraisal of the Eurocentric view of history", Menzies says in his book "1434: The Year A Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed To Italy and Ignited The Renaissance". Continued...
http:/www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL242804420080729
http:/www.reuters.com/news/pictures/articleslideshow?articleId=USL242804420080729&channelName=scienceNews#a=4
http:/bilingual-journalists.blogspot.com
-
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS - EXERCISES
Exercise 3
ResponderEliminarElija la opción más adecuada para responder a la pregunta.
May I speak to Mr. Bean, please?
Hold the line, please.
Yes, it is.
What will you do tomorrow?
I will go to the park.
I think it was good.
What will you do if it rains?
I'm reading a book.
I'll read a book.
Where will you go if it's sunny?
Next week.
We'll go to the park.
What will they do if the bus doesn't come?
They'll take a taxi.
They took a taxi.
What will you do if John arrives?
I will talk to him.
No, I won't.
What did you do last week?
I will go the cinema.
I went to the cinema.
What did they eat yesterday?
They ate some meat.
They will eat some meat.
Resources for students of all levels, teachers and translators. To learn or improve their English in a fun way through the Internet.
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.saberingles.com.ar/newspapers.html
Buscador de cursos /Inicio /Buscador /Curso
Ejercicios /Gramática /Vocabulario
Flashcards /Speaking /Listening
Lecturas /Cuentos /Películas Televisión/Canciones/Curiosidades
Juegos /Encuestas /Teachers
Writing /Foro /Blog
Libros/Diccionarios/Periódicos
Radio TV /Bibliotecas/ Newsletter /Ayuda
Cursos /en USA /en Inglaterra
Sugerencias/Colaboraciones/Donaciones