Chinese map of 1602

[samsong]

This map, made in 1602, by the request of the emperor of China, shows Cuba and the Americas.

The map places China at the center of the known world. The map measures 12 x 5 ft.

 

Interesting! In addition to Cuba, shown is Florida and the Keys, the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Not bad for an early 17th century map, ... and a map for China.

 

 

http://i48.tinypic.com/15kcow.jpg

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_....p1EwpbaRtsaMYA

[hakkamike]

Here is a map from 1570

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL150/9001338/16579737/381079062.jpg

[samsong]

This is a part of the 1602 map depicting Gansu Province and the Gobi Desert of China:-

 

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/2j5gfb5.jpg

[Guest Pommey]

Here is a map from 1570

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL150/9001338/16579737/381079062.jpg

 

 

thank god for the British Navy

[samsong]

Here is a map from 1570

 

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL150/9001338/16579737/381079062.jpg

 

 

thank god for the British Navy

~Theatrum Orbis Terrarum~

 

This map was published by a flemish cartographer in 1570. Later, this mapmaker was appointed geographer to King Phillip II of Spain.

 

The Chinese maps were published by a jesuit priest from Italy. This priest is buried in Beijing.

[fineart]

I have a full set of Mongolian stamps that were printed with Chinese characters!!! That proved Mongolia once was China's territory! I feel I am SO RICH having this set of stamps---even though they may be not worth anything, you could hardly see stamps that showed that period of history. I am going to save my stamps and pass on them to my offsprings. I expect my offsprings pass the stamps on too, to their next generations.

 

I feel life always has some miracles to amaze me !

[Kris-n-Rachel]

Photo of a 1763 Chinese map of the world, claiming to be a reproduction of a 1418 map made from Zheng He's voyages. Discovered by Lui Gang in 2005.

If you haven't read the book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, by Gavin Menzies, I highly recommend it. Absolutely fascinating, and it makes me sad that so much history has been lost.

 

http://www.gavinmenzies.net/index.asp

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Zhenghemap.jpg/800px-Zhenghemap.jpg

Edited January 13, 2010 by Kris-n-Rachel (see edit history)

[Smitty]

Wow! Catalina is really big in that map!

[ShaQuaNew]

Photo of a 1763 Chinese map of the world, claiming to be a reproduction of a 1418 map made from Zheng He's voyages. Discovered by Lui Gang in 2005.

If you haven't read the book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, by Gavin Menzies, I highly recommend it. Absolutely fascinating, and it makes me sad that so much history has been lost.

 

http://www.gavinmenzies.net/index.asp

 

 

 

It's surely something that continues to spark a good deal of debate. It flat pisses the europeans off for someone to suggest they didn't do the discovering. Here's a link to an older CNN story on the topic:

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/...1421/index.html

[samsong]

Photo of a 1763 Chinese map of the world, claiming to be a reproduction of a 1418 map made from Zheng He's voyages. Discovered by Lui Gang in 2005.

If you haven't read the book 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, by Gavin Menzies, I highly recommend it. Absolutely fascinating, and it makes me sad that so much history has been lost.

 

http://www.gavinmenzies.net/index.asp

 

 

 

It's surely something that continues to spark a good deal of debate. It flat pisses the europeans off for someone to suggest they didn't do the discovering. Here's a link to an older CNN story on the topic:

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/...1421/index.html

Fate intervened, or should I say, the new emperor, who was more interested in building and fortification of the great wall than he was in land and sea exploration. In fact, once in power, the emperor ordered the ships burned thus ending any chance of China in discovering the "new world" but, under the previous emperor, they were on the right coarse, they were so close. Under the old emperor and Zhang He's ships, China could have very well discovered the new world... but it never happend. That's fate at the flip of a coin.