Sailing Ships. The History of Navigation and Shipbuilding from Ancient Times to the 19th Century

The book proposed to the reader traces the history of the development of the sailing vessel over six thousand years — from ancient times to the end of the 19th century.

It discusses the ships of Ancient Egypt and Crete, Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome, as well as European, Asian, and American vessels.

Following the main trends in the development of northern and southern European ships, the authors describe the technical and cultural factors that determined changes in the shape and purpose of sailing ships — from ancient vessels with identical stems and a single mast to the large and astonishingly beautiful five- and six-masted ships of the 19th century.

Illustrations clearly show the details of ship designs and sail rigging from different periods.