[SeekAndFind]

See also here :

http://www.asiawind.com/hakka/zheng_he.htm

Background on Zheng He:

http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/journey2001/intro.html

http://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/millennium/m3/kristof.html

http://www.huaren.org/diaspora/background/doc/kristof.html

http://www.china2thou.com/9805p7.htm

http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/china.htm

[ForeignDude]

My understanding was that the Americas were discovered by black Egyptians who crossed the Atlantic in flying machines.

Naturally, all of this knowledge has been suppressed by the White Man(TM).

[Voter62vb]

Its true! Do a dig into any mid-west “ski” hill and you will find artefacts from China galore...

[PureSolace]

I’d argue that the Native Americans had ‘em all beat. ;-) (I’m just saying.)

[BGHater]

Easy there, as a fan of Ancient America, there are several groups who would disagree.

Don't forget the Japanese.

[heiss]

Vikings found America hundreds of years before and they had settlements in America..

[Palladin]

No way!

The Irish got here before anyone. St. Brendan the Navigator discovered America!

http://www.aoh61.com/history/brendan.htm

[Oratam]

The honor goes to those who can hold it against all future comers.

[constitutiongirl]

I have Menzies’ book, but I haven’t read it yet. I believe several groups tromped around North America at different times. I guess the zeitgiest wasn’t right for the earlier visitors/settlers (Am.Indians being the exception).

[Revolting cat!]

If the earth is flat, as most post-modern scientists agree, then the Chinese couldn’t have come from the other side.

[nufsed]

I read a book about Magellan a few years ago, sourced from his on board chroniciler.

During the 13 and 1400 hundreds the Chinese had an awesome fleet. Ships about twice the size of Magellans They were trading all throughtout the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Islands.

In the early 1500s the emperor pulled the fleet back home under the belief that everyone should come to China to trade and they didn't need to go out.

This move may have cost them the western hemisphere and certainly opened up the Philippines to Magellan, if he hadn't lost his head.

[Tanniker Smith]

Don't matter. He left.

Otherwise, the honor goes to the Vikings or the Celts or someone else.

[N. Theknow]

Chlistopher Corumbus randed on a Callibean isrand.

[r9etb]

Quite possible; so did the Vikings and, quite possibly, the Irish.

All immaterial. Columbus' voyage is the one that matters, because it's the one that stuck.