Product Description

In 1279, near what is now Hong Kong, Mongol ruler Khubilai Khan fulfilled the dream of his grandfather, Genghis Khan, by conquering China. The Grand Khan now ruled the largest empire the world has ever seen--one that stretched from the China Sea to the plains of Hungary. He also inherited the world's largest navy--more than seven hundred ships. Yet within fifteen years, Khubilai Khan's massive fleet was gone. What actually happened to the Mongol navy, considered for seven centuries to be little more than legend, has finally been revealed. Renowned archaeologist and historian James P. Delgado has gone diving with a Japanese team currently studying the remains of the Khan's lost fleet. Drawing from diverse sources--sunken ships, hand-painted scrolls, drowned bodies, and historical and literary records-- in this gripping account that moves deftly between the present and the past, Delgado pieces together the fascinating tale of Khubilai Khan's maritime forays and unravels one of history's greatest mysteries: What sank the great Mongol fleet?
Copub: Douglas & McIntyre

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84646 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780520259768
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Review
"Engaging and highly readable . . .Delgado writes with an attractively direct style. . . . This trim volume, covering only a small part of a vast subject, is . . . a valuable addition to the shelves."--The Guardian

"Splendor galore . . . This consistently interesting, well-organized book addresses more than its title suggests. [It] will appeal to anyone interested in modern underwater archaeology or Asian, maritime, and military history-who, after all, isn't amazed that Khubilai's second fleet was the largest ever assembled until Operation Overlord some 650 years later?"--Foreword Magazine

From the Inside Flap
"James Delgado is one of the world's preeminent marine archaeolgists; he's also a terrific writer, and Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet is a fascinating adventure tale packed with insights into a maritime empire about which most Westerners know almost nothing."--Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea

"The attempts by Khubilai Khan to invade Japan with his all-conquering Mongol armies were instrumental in forging Japan's national consciousness, yet the precise details of the operations have for centuries remained a mystery. Through brilliant and painstaking research James Delgado has brought Khubilai Khan's lost fleet to the surface, showing for the first time the true nature of the doomed adventure."--Stephen Turnbull, author of The Samurai Sourcebook

"This is two stories in one: how the armada sent by Khubilai Khan to invade Japan in 1281--the greatest fleet in history before D-Day--was churned to bits by a typhoon and how some of those bits are being retrieved in one of the greatest feats of modern marine archaeology. James Delgado has been at the heart of this project. He ranges widely, showing how the past and present illuminate each other. (To the Japanese, the typhoon was the original kamikaze, the 'divine wind' after which their World War II suicide bombers were named.) Objectivity is matched with personal involvement, scholarship with narrative skill. This is history at its best: rigorous, original, and vivid."--John Man, author of Kublai Khan and The Terra Cotta Army

About the Author
James P. Delgado is the President of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. His many previous books include the British Museum Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology, and, most recently, Gold Rush Port: The Maritime Archaeology of San Francisco's Waterfront (UC Press). Delgado has hosted the National Geographic television series "The Sea Hunters."

Customer Reviews

Thrilling account of how archaeology is still writing history
An excellent book that uses the topic of Khubilai Khan's legendary armada to shed light on the history of Asia before the 13th century. As a marine archaeologist, Delgado worked with the team who unearthed real evidence of the Khan's navy still buried off the coasts of Japan. To help readers understand his findings, he provides concise but a highly readable account of Asian history leading up to the invasion of Japan in 13th century. He also advances an alternate theory of why the invasion failed; although at this point there seems to be insufficient archaeological evidence to know for sure. My only disappointment was that the book was too short and didn't go into sufficient detail. Supposedly the largest naval invasion force in history (before D-Day), Khubilai Khan's lost fleet is one of the extraordinary events that shaped world history, whose secrets are yet to be fully revealed.

For those with an interest, fascinating.
Well written, engaging and thoroughly well researched. It's accessible for those with even a limited interest in what did happen to those failed Mongol/Chinese attempts to invade Japan. The possible reasons put forward are carefully considered. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all.

Niche history made interesting.
This book certainly fills a gap in general knowledge for the armchair historian. Many of us know aspects about the Mongol empire - Genghis, Ogadei, Khubilai et al and the effects this great lineage of conquerors had on the planets history. And many of us know how that they were rulers of China and practically became Chinese over time. Not to mention the far more modern history of Japan and it's feeling of divine protection and the tragic consequences that had.

But the real story behind Mongol seaborne missions isn't covered nearly so much. Well, wait no longer. Written in a free flowing style with a great deal of easily read history regarding the Mongols in general and their gradual conquering of China the book explains in wonderful style the reasons and the manner in which the Mongols tried to extend their power. The initial attacks on Japan for economic reasons were totally unknown to me - the fact that the Mongols were fighting the Song dynasty of Southern China who got a lot of their taxes via trade with Japan was news to me and put the entire operation in perspective for me.

Without become too academic the author moves the story quite well and weaves the modern day archeological evidence into the narrative to back up his conclusions and give examples that allow the modern day reader to empathise with the leadership of both sides as well as the common fighting man. For that, I thank the author.

Overall a fine book on a niche subject area that gives succeeds in weaving history with modern day archeological work and gives credit where it is due to the team working on furthering the archeological work and as a scuba diver and having a very very minor maritime archeological qualification I found this fun to read though certainly the non diver will not feel left out in any way.

Now can someone please do a similar book on the Mongol seaborne attacks on other nations? Please!