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

The proposed book traces the history of the development of sailing vessels over six thousand years – from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. It examines 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 influenced changes in the form and purpose of sailing ships – from ancient vessels with identical stems and a single mast to large and remarkably beautiful five- and six-masted ships of the 19th century. Illustrations vividly demonstrate the details of ship constructions and sailing rigging from different periods.