Some odd questions wandering around in the back of my head as I try to keep a TL moving past a mere 100 years. These all apply, and I haven't found any *good* reference material to address any of them.
What was the state of the Chinese Naval Industry from 0AD - 1500AD? Was it sufficient to find Hawaii? South America?
When Europe began it's imperialistic colonization efforts, what spared African natives from the plagues that hit American natives, or, to a lesser extent, the same plagues that hit Austrailian Aborigines?
What's the best reference on how the Chinese discovered Gunpowder?
Why didn't the Inuit bloodlines (genetically speaking) move south out of what is now N. Canada? Speculation welcome.