I just learned about this in my history class at MSU. I didn't really pay attension, but supposadly the Chineese had a HUGE navy and one person sailed to the "New World" and came back with the news. So the Chinese emporer said he didn' t want people going and trying to settle in other places and ordered all records destroyed from this time. Then the ships captain was to be done away with or something. THat is pretty much all I know.