VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Houston Museum of Natural Science presents a special lecture entitled Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet.

James P. Delgado, Ph.D., (pictured) Institute of Nautical Archaeology
Tuesday, April 21, 6:30 p.m.

In 1279, near what is now Hong Kong, Mongol ruler Khubilai Khan routed the Song navy and completed the grand dream of his grandfather, Genghis Khan – the conquest of China. The Grand Khan now ruled the largest empire the world had ever seen, stretching from the China Sea to the plains of Hungary. Having also inherited the World's largest navy – more than seven hundred ships, the Mongols began audacious attacks on Japan, Vietnam and Java. Within fifteen years, Khubilai had squandered his massive fleet.

Considered for seven centuries to be little more than legend, the story of the Mongol navy has finally been confirmed. Archaeologist James P. Delgado has dived with the Japanese team studying the remains of the Khan's lost fleet at Takashima. Using original sources as diverse as sunken ships, hand-painted scrolls and historical and literary records, he tells the fascinating tale of Khubilai's maritime forays and solves one of history's greatest mysteries: what sank the Khan's great fleet?

Released in 2009, Delgado will sign copies of his new book Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet: In Search of a Legendary Armada following the lecture.