Michael Baizerman Author

 This title of a new chapter, in which I will elaborate on naval arsenals and the employment of fleets, is still in diapers. I wrote an extract about the former and began checking the material about the latter.  I realized that speaking about Mediterranean fleets needs to be more professional. Instead of referring to all naval activities at one blow, I must consider the Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Venetian, Genoese, Catalan/Spanish, and Ottoman navies. Until now, I evaluated the data about the Byzantine navy and began developing what I dub "bits & pieces." I transferred some of these "odds and ends" to the first two chapters: "A Tale of the Two Watercraft Brands" and "Early War Galleys."  I want to analyze the strategy of leading fleets and what tactics their admirals chose to implement the task instead of describing concrete battles.  I will give you a few snapshots of my studies--the first concerns Byzantine horse transports, i.e., cargo galle...

  Grazioso Benincasa. Detail from a 1482 nautical chart depicting a galley and a Portuguese caravel https://www.meisterdrucke.ie/fine-art-prints/Grazioso-Benincasa/1101817/Galley-and-Portuguese-caravel,-detail-from-the-Nautical-chart-of-the-Mediterranean.html My second project is over. All 29 papers have been uploaded and offered for discussion. I have realized my potential, acquiring more than 10 K readers. Even my previous projects: "Dawn and Sunset" and an unfinished African project, receive moderate interest.  It is time to start uploading articles from my current project, dubbed "The Fear and Thrill of Navigation." I decided to present it not by chapters but by lumps. The apparent reason is to ramp up my readership. In addition, not all parts are ready, and I may need to revise them before uploading. I continue to research war galleys and sharpen my understanding of various issues.  I have to delay even this plan.  I sent the first extract, "Galleys in ...

 I want to share a bunch of encouraging news with you.  Since August 2019, I have been building my readership community on Academia.edu, a site for researchers. View https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael  I uploaded eight chapters from my first book, "Dawn and Sunset: A Tale of the Earliest Cities in the Near East." I started transferring the units from my second boon, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." It was a slow start. By the end of my first year, I had about 1K views.  At this stage, Academia.edu ushered in a new rubric, Discussion. After sending a paper to publication, an author can discuss his report. It usually takes three weeks, with an option for an extension. You write an invitation, and the site sends it to around 1 K people in addition to your fans. I resolved to put my articles to the test. Suddenly, many people recognized my name and became familiar with my studies. One can encounter researchers, students, and graduates of many uni...

  My Internet was mute for nearly a month and only now I begin to recover from this unpleasant experience. This is what I did in a few past days: I uploaded my article, John of Plano Carpini, for Discussion.  https://www.academia.edu/92846942/John_of_Plano_Carpini This is a chapter from the last unit of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." I was delighted to learn that I have got 9,500 views. I am nearing my current goal of 10 K.  I have edited a chapter from my third project,  The Fright and Thrill of Navigation:  Seafaring in the Medieval and the Renaissance Mediterranea n . The paper is titled "Early Light Galleys" and has the following outline: a: LBR dimensions [length to beam ratio] b: functions of galleys c: Sailing season   d: nocturnal voyage e: Operational range f: Speed and watering of the crews g: Coastal shipping and beaching h: Shipworm and Life Expectancy i: Visibility j: Seaworthiness k: Byzantine innovations l: Latin achieveme...

 The introduction to my third project, "The Fright and Frill of Navigation," focuses on the main topic of discourse: the two watercraft brands plying the waters of the medieval and renaissance Mediterranean. It is impossible to start covering the subject without preliminary notes about similarities and distinctions between the galley and the round ship.  My introduction embraces three aspects--the galley, the round ship, comparing and contrast--and ends with the reappraisal, reinforcing the primary outcomes. Since I am still waiting to be ready to upload the paper on my website yet (see my website https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael), I will present its outline.  A: The Galley a. The two brands b. The galley’s performance c. Low freeboard d. Propulsion e. Choppy seas f. Hugging the coast g. Wintering h. Provisioning B: The Round Ship a.        Propulsion b.        Lack of wind c.   ...

  I have received good news from Academia. After over two months' delay, I finally got access to Discussion. The confirmation coincided with presenting my last chapter, John of Montecorvino, to the public. https://www.academia.edu/96931204/John_of_Montecorvino The paper has triggered replies and enjoyed more than 150 views. I am on the way to realizing my potential in Academia, which will stand around 10 K views. I still have two more chapters for Discussion. I noticed some readers come across my previous papers, from the second to the first book. It is very encouraging. I am beginning to form a community of readers, primarily academics. I wish I also had more readers from the general public since this is my target audience.  My zoom lecture in the historical-philosophic club about Alexander against Gog-Magog: Part 2 was  successful. I received many compliments and questions. Some listeners wished they had been present at the previous lecture, and I invited them to p...

  I still need help with updating articles for Discussions on my Academia page. The support team says  this is a huge issue for their engineering gang to tackle. They have been doing it for almost two months. My exposure to a wider audience went down, though I already have over 9 K views. My last contribution is chapter 28, William of Rubruck, of my second book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." https://www.academia.edu/96081693/William_of_Rubruck I will upload my last chapter in about two weeks and attach a content page.  I agreed on a new zoom lecture based on Unit IV of my book. Part 2 of the cycle covers the legend of the Iron Gates, proverbially constructed by Alexander of Macedon to repel invaders from beyond the Caucasus. I will elaborate on steppe pastoralists and explain how medieval literati replaced unknown tribes with the familiar horrifying image of Gog-Magog.  I continue collecting and developing extracts for the third chapter of my project...