1421 Foundation

The 1421 Research, Education and Exploration Foundation (“1421 Foundation”) is a USA based non-profit organization which acts as a thought leader, change agent, and catalyst for good. Much of our work began two decades ago when our benefactor – Gavin Menzies – became a focal point for a new dialogue on the history of maritime exploration. The 1421 Foundation was founded by Ian Hudson, a London-based scholar and close associate of Gavin, together with Frank Lee and Peter Classen, The scope of our work has expanded well beyond its initial focus of expanding, testing, and debating the hypothesis put forward in Menzies’ book, 1421 – The Year China Discovered the World (2002) and his subsequent publications all related to the Great Ages of Exploration and Discovery. The benefit of the 1421 Foundation to the world is that through developing and debating 1421, our community has become an expert in many different dialogues relevant to 2020. We teach generations old and new that innovative perceptions about history, foreign policy, and cultural values can be presented in a constructive, respectful, and inclusive manner. Through the lesson of 1421, we know a layperson or hobbyist – someone who thinks or sees things with a different mindset than that of a more traditionally-trained academic – can have a platform for their research and discoveries. Through 1421, we hope that many will find the courage of the great explorers of the past; that individuals and forward-thinking organizations will see a clear path to challenging established doctrine and standing up to destructive populist opinion or outdated paradigms. The 1421 Foundation will bring together academics and researchers from all corners of the Earth, with the view to expanding the history of global exploration – through open, respectful collaboration.