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Scott, I was confused about the date of The Great Withdrawal, so thanks for clarifying. Thought death of Zhu Di in 1424 was a little early, and 3 years seemed a short time for visiting all those places (like Antarctica), but things seem to be happening fast now in our country with one ruler waging war on science. Yes, this is controversial and unproven as presented on PBS. It's an interesting book though. I think Gavin Menzies' assertion was based on the fact that China was the only country with a fleet capable of the circumnavigation of the earth necessary to produce those pre-Columbus maps. How much of the fleet really returned to China? Can I get Temple's book at Amazon.com? Thanks, Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott E. Antes" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 7:32 AM Subject: Re: Time to learn Mandarin > What most Americans don't realize is the fact that the Chinese were light > years ahead of the rest of the world for centuries in just about every > aspect > of technology, inluding that of medicine. While *1421* (Ray's mention) is > a > very controversial work, based on much speculation and less accepted > evidence, > no scholar denies that China--until the Great Withdrawal of 1433--was > unparalleled in the fields of science, inventiveness, and discovery. > China > today is doing a major version of "playing catch-up." Once they do catch > up, > they won't stop there, of course. > > In terms of our concerns on this list, according to Robert Temple (*The > Genius > of China*--recommended reading), the Chinese discovered that blood > circulates > in the body 1800 years before the West. They discovered circadian rhythms > in > the human body 2150 years before the West. They discovered the science of > endocrinology 2100 years before the West. They were diagnosing diabetes > through urine analysis 100 years before the West. They were innoculating > against disease (smallpox) 800 years before the West. Let's not forget > acupuncture and an unrivaled knowledge of herbology, massage, and surgery. > Etc., etc. > > The Chinese invented steel, they invented paper, they invented gunpowder, > they > invented the compass, the stirrup, the fishing reel, the wheelbarrow, the > iron > plow, etc., etc., etc. (Has anyone ever seen the incredible bridges they > made > doing the Song Dynasty?) They had laws on motion many centuries before > Newton. They thought up the helicopter long before Da Vinci. They came > up > with a refined value of pi a millennium before the Greeks. They did so > many > things because for so long they were not encumbered by restrictive polical > squabbles or religious beliefs. > > Oh yes, if anyone questions Chinese former maritime supremacy, which Ray > pointed out, compare Columbus's flagship, the 85-foot Santa Maria, with a > Chinese treasure ship measuring 400 feet. The Chinese made European ships > look like rowboats. > > Maybe the Chinese--if they return to world leadership in practically every > scientific discipline--will be the ones to find the best treatment for PD. > Who knows? Scott > >>===== Original Message From Parkinson's Information Exchange Network > <[log in to unmask]> ===== >>I saw on TV today that in NY people were hiring Chinese "nannys" so their >>kids could learn Chinese. After seeing PBS program I started reading >>"1421 >>The Year China Discovered America". About 1424 with the death of the >>Emperor China turned inward and lost their maritime lead. Kind of like we >>are surrendering our lead in science today and much more in the past 5 >>years. Civilizations do not hold on to hegemony forever. I just copied >>about half of the article, concentrating on stem cell research. >>ray, MA History > > Scott E. Antes > Department of Anthropology > Northern Arizona University > Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn