Tech | July 29, 2008 | 4 comments

Leonardo da Vinci's technological drawings derived from Chinese originals?

source: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL242804420080729

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Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of machines were undoubtedly derived from Chinese originals, a British amateur historian claims in a newly-published book.

Gavin Menzies sparked headlines 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 mastermind Leonardo da Vinci.

"Everything known to the Chinese by the year 1430 was brought to Venice," said Menzies, when a Chinese ambassador went to Florence and presented the material to Pope Eugenius IV.

"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.
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4 comments // Leonardo da Vinci's technological drawings derived from Chinese originals?

  • pos_nir
  • rwylie
    • 0
      rwylie  

    • Hey, it's fine: point is that SOMEONE came up with them: now we should just switch our admiration to this Chinese guy.

      PS. We should still venerate DaVinci, as he was amazing in so may other aspects, the copying bastard.

    • 3 years ago
  • Tommyjolly
    • 0
      Tommyjolly  

    • Even if it is true, that Da Vinci's Concepts are deduced from Chinese originals he is with no doubt one of the finest geniuses of all time.
      His attention to detail, his visions and his consistent strive for innovation is still something unique to extraordinary personalities.
      He was an artist, designer and inventor, all attributes of importance to push the human mankind further and explore new possibilities.

    • 3 years ago
  • purplefox
    • 0
      purplefox  

    • Aah, Gaven Menzies again, the Dan Brown of Eastern anthropology and history... Still, he does have some fascinating ideas and research.

    • 3 years ago
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