Antique Map May Show Chinese Beat Columbus To America

Antique Map On Display In Beijing

There is a very interesting story on CNN.com this morning about a map on display in Beijing which purports to show that Chinese admiral Zheng He sailed to the American continent around 1421, decades before the arrival of Columbus. The map is allegedly an 18th-century copy of a 1418 original. It was bought, according to the article, for $500 back in 2001, by a Chinese lawyer and art collector.

Storm Of Controversy Surrounds Map

Not everyone agrees. Many academics think it is a fake, arguing that there is no historical evidence that Zheng He reached America’s shores. It is noted in the article that the current Chinese government may be using the map for contemporary political purposes. It would not be the first time a map has been used in that way! Whatever the true story, one thing is for sure — antique maps can be a lot of fun! Imagine stirring up this kind of debate with a map that you paid just $500 for.