The Ancient Mariners : Seafarers and Sea Fighters of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times. - Second Edition

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. Tells The Story Of Ancient Accomplishments On The Sea From The Earliest Times To The End Of The Roman Empire, Explaining How Seafaring People 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. Down To The Sea In Ships -- International Trade Begins -- Excavating Under Water -- War On The Sea -- Raiders And Traders -- The Dawn Of Maritime Exploration -- Westward Ho! -- The Wooden Walls -- The Merchants Of Athens -- Beyond The Pillars Of Hercules -- The Age Of Titans -- Landlubbers To Sea Lords -- East Meets West -- New Light On Ancient Ships And Shipping -- The Pirates Of Cilicia -- Rome Rules The Waves -- All Routes Lead To Rome -- An End And A Beginning. Lionel Casson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-233) And Index. Includes the story of all that the ancients accomplished on the sea from the earliest times to the end of the Roman Empire. This title explains how they perfected trading vessels from mere rowboats into huge freighters that could carry over a thousand tons and how they transformed warships from simple oared transports into complex rowing machines.