writes The New York Times, an amateur historian Gavin Menzis (Gavin Menzies), in 2002, claiming that Chinese mariners discovered America for 70 years before Columbus, now argues that the famous drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, where it depicts flying machines, and other unknown dotole mechanisms have been copied from Chinese technical books.

In the new book Menzisa «1434: The Year A Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed To Italy and Ignited The Renaissance» ( «1434: the year when the great Chinese fleet sailed to Italy and launched the Renaissance») contains the idea of that the Renaissance could not be if the Chinese seafarers are not brought to Venice technical encyclopedia. From Venice Chinese ambassador went to Florence, which gave the book to Pope Eugene IV. «That was the spark, which broke Renaissance», - said Menzes. But he did acknowledged merit Leonardo: «He redraw all three projections, which significantly improved the drawings».

Previous book Menzesa, «1421», in which the historian has denied Colombia in the rank of a pioneer, spread a circulation of over one million copies. But most scientists did not accept his theory.

A new book critics also предостаточно. Menzes argues that the drawings of Leonardo borrowed siege guns, mills and pumps from Chinese sources, but Martin Kemp (Martin Kemp), art historian from Oxford University and author of books about da Vinci, I do not agree with him: «[Menzis. - Ed.] Said that they [the drawings of Leonardo. - Ed.] Are copies, solely on the basis that they are similar [to the Chinese designs. - Ed.]. He said that they are almost identical, although it is not so ».

«His method of investigation of questionable, - adds the scientist. - I will follow its publication, but I am confident that the [work Menzisa. - Ed.] does not make any revolution in the study of art of Leonardo or to explore Technology XV century ».

Other academics are even more genially. «All this is complete nonsense», - categorically declares Felipe Fernandez-Armesto (Felipe Fernandez-Armesto), Professor of History at Tufts University, Massachusetts (USA) and Queen Mary College, University of London. And Jeff Wade (Geoff Wade), senior researcher at the National University Institute of Asian Studies in Singapore, would take a book Menzisa historical novel.

Menzis pariruet: «This is not my dreams. These historians are trying to protect all the small stuff, which is now taught as "history "».

Sources: www.artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru