The Ancient Mariners

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous book essencial to the study of ancient history
Review: Every reader interested in history, from casual to scholar will find in this book a valuable resource to understand the origin and evolution of seafaring until the end of the middle ages. The importance of this seafaring activity becomes obvious through a well written text which bring us the vivid glow of people, devices and events long gone. After reading this work, a history book lacking reference to seafaring will seem very incomplete.

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous book essencial to the study of ancient history
Review: Every reader interested in history, from casual to scholar will find in this book a valuable resource to understand the origin and evolution of seafaring until the end of the middle ages. The importance of this seafaring activity becomes obvious through a well written text which bring us the vivid glow of people, devices and events long gone. After reading this work, a history book lacking reference to seafaring will seem very incomplete.

Rating:
Summary: Not A Slow Boat
Review: This is the first of Casson's titles I read, in the old edition, and I plan to read the new edition which I have in fact purchased. The new edition has been extensively edited, with some new material, but the chapter structure appears to be very much the same as in the old edition. This work is an excellent companion to Casson's "Travel In The Ancient World", but is not about travel. The construction of ships is very old, and the evolution of building methods and sheer size during ancient times makes for fascinating reading. Casson gets my vote for most readable historian, at least regarding ancient history, and I doubt that anyone with an interest in ships and sailing would be able to put this down. Casson's discussion of ancient commercial connections in the Indian Ocean, or the relative size of (for example) the grain hauling behemoths and the much smaller vessels of our more familiar "Age of Sail" should be of interest to those who think Columbus was last, as well as to those with more conventional views.

Rating:
Summary: Not A Slow Boat
Review: This is the first of Casson's titles I read, in the old edition, and I plan to read the new edition which I have in fact purchased. The new edition has been extensively edited, with some new material, but the chapter structure appears to be very much the same as in the old edition. This work is an excellent companion to Casson's "Travel In The Ancient World", but is not about travel. The construction of ships is very old, and the evolution of building methods and sheer size during ancient times makes for fascinating reading. Casson gets my vote for most readable historian, at least regarding ancient history, and I doubt that anyone with an interest in ships and sailing would be able to put this down. Casson's discussion of ancient commercial connections in the Indian Ocean, or the relative size of (for example) the grain hauling behemoths and the much smaller vessels of our more familiar "Age of Sail" should be of interest to those who think Columbus was last, as well as to those with more conventional views.