Email from Russia

Garry Kasparov, the Russian-born former world chess champion, has publicly endorsed Anatoly Fomenko’s “New Chronology,” a radical revision of world history. Fomenko’s thesis argues that much of what we call ancient history is misdated or duplicated and that the actual historical timeline is far shorter than commonly believed. Kasparov says he finds the questions it raises important and plans to spend more time promoting these ideas as he moves away from professional chess.

Fomenko’s work uses statistical, astronomical and textual arguments to re-date events and to group separate historical accounts into repeated copies. Mainstream historians, archaeologists and chronologists overwhelmingly reject the New Chronology, calling its methods unsound and its conclusions unsupported by evidence. Kasparov acknowledges the controversy but argues that challenging received history can be valuable; as he approaches retirement he says he will devote time to exploring and publicizing these disputed claims.