The ancient mariners: seafarers and sea fighters of the Mediterranean in ancient times.

by Lionel Casson, 1914-2009

Book, 1959

Status

Available

Call number

VK16 .C37

Publication

Publisher Unknown

Description

Written by the renowned authority on ancient ships and seafaring Lionel Casson, The Ancient Mariners has long served the needs of all who are interested in the sea, from the casual reader to the professional historian. This completely revised edition takes into account the fresh information that has appeared since the book was first published in 1959, especially that from archaeology's newest branch, marine archaeology. Casson does what no other author has done: he has put in a single volume the story of all that the ancients accomplished on the sea from the earliest times to the end of the Roman Empire. He explains how they perfected trading vessels from mere rowboats into huge freighters that could carry over a thousand tons, how they transformed warships from simple oared transports into complex rowing machines holding hundreds of marines and even heavy artillery, and how their maritime commerce progressed from short cautious voyages to a network that reached from Spain to India.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member et.carole
This thorough explanation of the progress of ancient sailing technologies put the development of the triremes and penteconters typically considered Greek ships into the context of all ancient naval development, which was helpful for the development of a port scene. It would also have been highly
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useful for the Artemisia piece I worked on about eighteen months ago. It includes much information about Egyptian and Roman sailing technologies as well, if a little less than desired about non-military vessels.
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LibraryThing member koalamom
Twas actually a good book, a lot of history on seafaring but not so many minute details that you felt like you had to slog your way through it. Although it was written in 1991, it is still a good read today, nothing is lost or changed as often happens with historical non-fiction.
LibraryThing member farrhon
Well researched and well written. Fascinating history of - not landed empires - but sea-based ones.

Barcode

34662000822632
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