Lecture to question claims that China discovered the world . . .

Oct 26, 2006

A lecture to be held at the University of Wollongong (UOW) on Tuesday 31 October will focus on debunking claims that Chinese fleets could have discovered the whole world in the period 1421-1423.

The lecture, 1421 and All That Junk, by Professor Victor Prescott from the University of Melbourne is part of the commemoration of the visit to Wollongong on Saturday 28 October of the 16th century replica Dutch sailing ship the Duyfken (see separate information below).

Professor Prescott is a political geographer who came to Australia from Nigeria in 1956. He has written 15 books varying from 'Antarctica: Last of lands', with John Lovering to 'Map of Mainland Asia by Treaty'. Last year, with Dr Clive Schofield of UOW’s Centre for Maritime Policy he published 'International Maritime Boundary of the World'.

Professor Prescott’s wife, Dorothy, is an eminent historical cartographer. She was Map Curator at the National Library in Canberra and belongs to a group that has been drawing attention to what they say are the ridiculous claims by Gavin Menzies that four or five huge Chinese fleets discovered the whole world in the period 1421-1423.

The title of Professor Prescott's lecture refers to the historical study by Gavin Menzies, 1421: The Year China Discovered America (2004). This work was examined in July on the ABC's Four Corners under the title, Junk History. Among other claims, Menzies traces the purported voyages of Mong Bao, Zhoh Man, and the Chinese Admiral Zheng He to the Antarctic, Australia (including the Barrier Reef) and the Spice Islands (Indonesia), all in the early 15th century. These pre-date the Duyfken (1606), and bring into question the present celebration of 400 years of Australian coastal mapping.

Media please note

Lecture date and time: Tuesday, October 31, at 7.30 pm

Venue: Building 35 (Biological Sciences), Room G45, University of Wollongong

For further information contact Emeritus Professor Murray Wilson, UOW’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences on 4221 3189 or Emeritus Professor Bruce Ryan on 4233 1525.

. . . and the visit of the Duyfken to Wollongong Harbour

Meanwhile, on October 28 the 16th-century Dutch sailing ship named the Duyfken (or Little Dove) will arrive in Wollongong Harbour around noon, and will be berthed there for the next four days.

The Duyfken has been visiting ports all around Australia as part of this year’s celebration of 400 years of European contact with the continent. It will arrive in Wollongong from Sydney, after a harbour cruise with Prince Willem Alexander, the Prince of Orange, and his wife, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands.

The original Duyfken, under Captain Willem Janszoon, discovered the Cape York Peninsula near Weipa in 1606. Janszoon’s map of that area marked the beginning of Australian mapping. The national celebration of these past 400 years has been organised by Australia On The Map, which is sponsoring the Duyfken’s visit to Wollongong.

The Duyfken will be escorted into Wollongong Harbour by a flotilla of yachts from local sailing clubs. If conditions permit, it is expected to be welcomed at sea by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Alex Darling, from on board the flagship of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol.

Wollongong City Council has arranged daylong, dockside festivities on Sunday, October 29, to mark the occasion. There will be performances by the Dutch-Australian Choir (Pro Musica), clog dancers (Dutch Australian Folks Group), Belinda Oerlemans’ junior dance group, the Wollongong City Brass Band, and the Guys & Dolls square dancing group.

Members of the public will be able to visit the Duyfken every afternoon during its visit from noon until 5pm., and all day on Sunday. The admission is a gold coin. Local volunteers will serve as guides. School parties will be scheduled on weekdays from 9am till noon.

The lecture, 1421 and All That Junk (detailed above) is an associated event to the arrival of the Duyfken. There will also be a display of hydrographic charts at the Wollongong City Library.

The Duyfken will sail from Wollongong on Thursday, November 2, southwards to Ulladulla and Eden. It will return to Sydney during December, when it will join the Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day, but only as far as the Heads. During January, it will remain in Sydney, offering instruction in square-rig sailing.

The entire celebratory voyage during 2006 is a partnership between the Australian Government, the Duyfken Foundation, and Australia on the Map, 1606-2006.

For further information contact Professor Bruce Ryan, phone (02) 4233 1525.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128