Often when discussing early American exploration, someone brings up that the Chinese had maps of the Americas that predate European exploration. Is there credence to this claim, and if so what details are there on the subject of Chinese exploration of the New World? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

Often when discussing early American exploration, someone brings up that the Chinese had maps of the Americas that predate European exploration. Is there credence to this claim, and if so what details are there on the subject of Chinese exploration of the New World?

by VinceDeF

Mictlantecuhtli

There's always room for discussion, but perhaps the section Historians' views of Gavin Menzies' "1421: The Year China Discovered the World" in our FAQ will answer your inquiry.