Boats of the World : From the Stone Age to Medieval Times

by: McGrail, S.

Price: 250,00 EURO

1 copy in stock

Description
Maritime archaeology, the study of man's early encounter with the rivers and seas of the world, only came to the fore in the last decades of the twentieth century, long after its parent discipline, terrestrial archaeology, had been established. Yet there were seamen long before there were farmers, navigators before there were potters, and boatbuilders before there were wainwrights. In this book Professor McGrail attempts to correct some of the imbalance in our knowledge of the past by presenting the evidence for the building and use of early water transport: rafts, boats, and ships.

Contents:
Cover; Contents; List of Illustrations; List of Tables; Abbreviations; Conventions used in the text; 1. SOURCES AND THEMES; 1.1 Maritime archaeology and boat archaeology; 1.2 Sources of evidence; 1.3 The reconstruction and interpretation of excavated vessels; 1.4 Concepts behind some of the arguments in this study; 1.5 Presentation of the evidence; 2. EGYPT; 2.1 The Delta; 2.2 Egypt's natural resources; 2.3 Seafaring; 2.4 The pre-Pharaonic period (c.13,000-3100 BC); 2.5 Non-plank craft throughout Pharaonic times; 2.6 Planked craft of the Early Dynastic Period (c.3100-2866 BC). 2.7 Planked boats and ships of the Old Kingdom (c.2686-2160 BC)2.8 Planked vessels of the Middle Kingdom (c.2133-1786 BC); 2.9 Planked vessels of the New Kingdom (c.1567-1085 BC); 2.10 The Late Dynastic Period (1085-332 BC); 2.11 Graeco-Roman times; 3. ARABIA; 3.1 Overseas trade; 3.2 Water transport before the third millennium BC; 3.3 The third millennium BC; 3.4 Water transport in the second and first millennia BC; 3.5 Propulsion and steering in early Mesopotamia; 3.6 Sewn-plank boats of the first and second millennia AD; 3.7 Harbours and trade routes in the first century AD; 3.8 Seafaring. 4. THE MEDITERRANEAN4.1 Reconstructing past sea levels and climates; 4.2 Environmental conditions; 4.3 Overseas passages; 4.4 Exploration and navigation; 4.5 Water transport before the Bronze Age (before c.3800 BC); 4.6 The Early Bronze Age (c.3800-2000 BC); 4.7 The Middle Bronze Age (c.2000-1500 BC); 4.8 The Late Bronze Age (c.1550-1100 BC); 4.9 The Early Iron Age (c.1100-550 BC); 4.10 The trireme of the seventh-fourth centuries BC; 4.11 Shipbuilding before the third century BC; 4.12 The Hellenistic Age (fourth-first centuries BC); 4.13 The Roman Age (mid-second century BC-fourth century AD). 4.14 Propulsion, steering, and seafaring4.15 Early frame-first vessels; 4.16 Design of medieval frame-first ships; 5. ATLANTIC EUROPE; 5.1 The early environment; 5.2 Early seafaring; 5.3 Water transport before the Bronze Age; 5.4 Bronze and Iron Age plank boats; 5.5 Vessels built Mediterranean fashion; 5.6 Romano-Celtic boats and ships; 5.7 Boats and ships of the first millennium AD; 5.8 Medieval vessels (eleventh-fourteenth centuries); 5.9 Late medieval ships; 5.10 Atlantic seafaring; 6. INDIA; 6.1 The Neolithic and Bronze Ages; 6.2 The Iron Age; 6.3 Graeco-Roman trade with India. 6.4 Seafaring in the Bay of Bengal (first-eighth centuries AD)6.5 Medieval European contacts with India; 6.6 Early Indian water transport; 6.7 Planked boats and ships up to the twentieth century; 6.8 Medieval and later navigational techniques; 7. GREATER AUSTRALIA; 7.1 The early environment; 7.2 The settlement of Greater Australia; 7.3 Water transport; 7.4 Early prehistoric water transport; 8. SOUTH-EAST ASIA; 8.1 Early population movements; 8.2 Early maritime contacts; 8.3 Water transport; 9. OCEANIA; 9.1 The Oceanic migration; 9.2 Evidence for Oceanic water transport; 9.3 Water transport

Professor McGrail presents a history of water transport as it has developed over millennia, from before 40,000 BC to the mid-second millennium AD. The coverage is world-wide: from the Baltic and North Seas to the Bay of Bengal and the Tasman Sea; and from the Gulf of Mexico to the China Seas and the Baring Strait.

Reviews and Awards
"There is much to be learnt from this very scholarly book. Especially important is its placement of developments in their proper historical context. The author certainly dispels many myths. Benefiting from an extensive index, clear glossary and enormous bibliography, this all encompassing study is a brilliant place to start for anyone wishing to know more about where we have come from in the world of ships and boats." - Fishing Boat World

"Produced to an exemplary standard in an attractive double-column format, it provides clear and commendably concise summary of this rapidly expanding sub-discipline ... This impressive body of magisterial synthesis should be made available as widely as possible." - Mariner's Mirror

"The book is well produced and the illustrations are both clear and lavish ... the evidence and the discussions are clearly set out, making it an accessible book for the non-specialist and specialist alike to use. Boats of the World will be an invaluable source for the study of ancient watercraft for many years to come." - Antiquity

"... a remarkable catalogue of waterborne activity by world cultures from prehistory to about 1500 AD (and into more recent times for certain cultures) ... show[s] just how significant maritime archaeology has become as a tool for understanding the human past." - Antiquity

"That Seán McGrail is the most widely versed scholar of small vessels was well known, but after this...we can safely say that he is also one of the most skilful communicators in his field." - L'Archeologo Subacqueo

"A great strength of Boats of the World is the blending of sources - archaeology, history, iconography, ethnography." - Times Higher Education Supplement

"McGrail's knowledge and explanation of hardly known sea and river craft and maritime trivia is particularly original. Even specialists will raise an eyebrow at the cross-cultural maritime traditions of Iron Age Britain." - Times Higher Education Supplement

"... a highly disciplined book suitable for the informed public and university students alike." - Times Higher Education Supplement

"McGrail is one of maritime archaeology's rarities: a scholar proficient both in translating the meaning behind worked planks and carpentry marks preserved along rotted sections of hulls, and in reconstructuring a ship's history from its shape and provenance to speed and function. This expertise comes from years of archaeological and ethnographic fieldwork." - Times Higher Education Supplement

"For those who wish to explore further, this book will enable them; for the general reader it stands alone as a beacon for its subject." - Maritime Life and Traditions

"As a general introduction to early watercraft the book is a pioneer effort, and it has much information to offer. McGrail has assembled a hugh amount of material which is handled in a clear and systematic way." - International Journal of Nautical Archaeology

"The book is a valuable reference work, and a good introduction to the subject." - International Journal of Nautical Archaeology

"The great value of this book lies in the consistent and high-quality descriptions of the rafts, boats and ships themselves, and for those who have an interest in any aspects of prehistoric or early historic water transport, Boats of the World provides an excellent source of information." - Robert Van De Noort

"Boats of the World is a true tour de force by Professor Sean McGrail, a world authority in the field of maritime archaeology." - Robert Van De Noort, Antiquaries Journal

"Seán McGrail is Britain's leading authority on maritime archaeology ... Here he provides a substantial base for the integration of the maritime subdivision of archaeology into its proper place as part of the mainstream of the discipline." - Basil Greenhill, Times Literary Supplement

"This is a joyous source book for anyone who appreciates academic clarity." - Colin Mudie, Journal of Navigation

"A large work of distinguished scholarship by a senior maritime archaeologist." - Colin Mudie, Journal of Navigation

"Classic and magnificent work." - Colin Mudie, Journal of Navigation

"In short, Professor McGrail offers us an extraordinary encyclopaedia of nautical archaeology based on extensive documentation." - Eric Rieth, Neputnia

"A superb, long-awaited book, of unique methodological richness, incorporating the latest research, taking account of all the "nautical civilisations" of Egypt, Arabia, the Mediterranean, Atlantic Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, China, America." - Eric Rieth, Neptunia

Boats of the World : From the Stone Age to Medieval Times

by: McGrail, S.

• ISBN-13: 9780198144687 / 978-0-19-814468-7
• ISBN-03: 0198144687 / 0-19-814468-7
• Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2001

Price: 250,00 EURO

1 copy in stock