Back to Results
Cover image of Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World
Cover image of Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World
Share this Title:

Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World

Lionel Casson

Publication Date
Binding Type

Lionel Casson's encyclopedic study is the first of its kind to use underwater archaeological data to refine and area of scholarship that had, for the most part, relied on ancient texts and graphic representations. Tracing the history of early ships and seamanship from pre-dynastic Egypt to the Roman empire, from skiffs and barges to huge oared warships and royal yachts, Casson describes not only the ships themselves, but also the make-up and training of the crews, placement of weaponry, how cargo was stored, methods of navigation, harbor facilities, and the ways ships were named.

Reviews

Reviews

A wonderful book made even better.

A bible for all interested in ancient ships, shipbuilding, and sailing techniques... it is a standard reference for every student of ancient history, not only for those interested in maritime matters.

Lionel Casson's scholarship is impeccable and he adds data from underwater archaeological research. In this paperback edition much new material is included..The remarkable performance of the Kyrenia ship replica, for example, will facinate any sailing reader. Clearly they were nautical experts, these Kyrenia seafarers of 300 BC!

Casson is one of those rare individuals able to make a highly technical subject not only understandable to the general reader, but interesting as well... This is unquestionably the finest general reference on the subject of ancient seafaring; copiously illustrated, erudite, and always readable, [it] belongs in the library of anyone with even a passing interest in the roots of maritime enterprise.

This fine book... should remain the standard authority on ancient ships for many years to come.

See All Reviews
About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6.125
x
9.25
Pages
592
ISBN
9780801851308
Table of Contents

Preface
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1. Floats, Rafts, and the Earliest Boats
Chapter 2. Egypt and Mesopotamia
Chapter 3. The Eastern Mediterranean: 3000–1000 B.C.
Chapter 4. The Eastern Mediterranean

Preface
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1. Floats, Rafts, and the Earliest Boats
Chapter 2. Egypt and Mesopotamia
Chapter 3. The Eastern Mediterranean: 3000–1000 B.C.
Chapter 4. The Eastern Mediterranean: 1000-500 B.C.
Chapter 5. The Age of the Trireme: 500–323 B.C.
Chapter 6. The Warships of the Hellenistic Age: 323–31 B.C.
Chapter 7. The Roman Imperial and Byzantine Navies
Chapter 8. Merchant Galleys
Chapter 9. Sailing Ships
Chapter 10. Shipbuilding
Chapter 11. Rudder, Rigging, Miscellaneous Equipment
Chapter 12. Seasons and Winds, Sailing, Rowing, Speed
Chapter 13. Officers and Men
Chapter 14. Small Craft
Chapter 15. Markings and Names
Chapter 16. Harbors
List of Abbreviations
Glossary of Nautical Terms
Glossary of Greek and Latin Terns
Indexes
Addenda and Corrigenda

Author Bio
Featured Contributor

Lionel Casson

Lionel Casson is a professor emeritus of classics at New York University and has written many books about life in the ancient world, including Travel in the Ancient World, Everyday Life in Ancient Rome, and Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World, all available from Johns Hopkins.