Michael Baizerman Author

  My recent contribution to the re-editing project of the initial chapters of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East," has commenced. View it https://www.academia.edu/143090131/Where_is_the_Heart_of_the_World_The_Location_of_Jerusalem_on_Medieval_Mind_Maps The article places Jerusalem in the center of the papal vision of the Crusades, the pilgrim's desire to visit the Holy City, and the mapmakers' intention to establish the spatial center of the world.  The previous chapters are available: https://www.academia.edu/127139711/What_if_the_Earth_Is_the_Sphere https://www.academia.edu/127881027/How_to_measure_the_Earths_circumference https://www.academia.edu/128448718/How_Long_Spans_the_Inhabited_World https://www.academia.edu/129455182/The_World_as_the_Trefoil My upcoming Zoom lecture titled "The Siege of Chandax," based on the article of the same name, will take place on August 11 . View https://www.academia.edu/126933976/The_Siege_of_Chandax_The_Byza...

  I have just uploaded a new article, which is my sixth account of medieval naval battles. You can find it here: https://www.academia.edu/130330389/The_Battle_of_Meloria_August_6_1284_. The article includes five main points: 1. The Dogged Rivals 2. The Escalation of Violence 3. The Final Confrontation 4. The Outcome 5. The Re-imagining This version draws upon Matthew E. Parker's dissertation, "Sinking Pisa: The Decline of a Commercial Empire in the Thirteenth Century" (Saint Louis University, 2019). It also references "The Templar of Tyre," translated by Paul Crawford (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), which is an anonymous fourteenth-century chronicle.   You read the sixth article from the cycle devoted to maritime battles in the medieval Mediterranean. The Pisans and Genoese went face-to-face, battling for the hegemony of the key islands, and, by extension, of the entire western basin of the Inland Sea. Only one of them could taste victory, though the geopolitical ...

I have decided to revise the plan for my project, “The Fright and Thrill of Navigation.” Originally, I intended to cover shipping in the medieval and early modern Mediterranean. However, the wealth of information available, particularly regarding the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, would make my research excessively lengthy and difficult to read. Therefore, I will focus my investigation exclusively on shipping in the medieval Mediterranean. Here is the revised outline: “The Fright and Thrill of Navigation” Volume 1: Seafaring in the Medieval Mediterranean Prelude: I. A Tale of Two Brands Part 1: Galleys in the Medieval Mediterranean Part 2: Sailing Ships in the Medieval Mediterranean Part 3: The Galley vs. the Sailing Ship. Comparison & Contrast: Reappraisal (?)  The Vagaries of Navigation in the Medieval Mediterranean (?) The Sailor (?) The Port Unit I: The Age of the Galley 1.        The Early War Galleys 2.      ...

  We canceled the lecture scheduled for May 12 due to technical issues with my computer. After fixing the problem with the generous help from my neighbor, I conducted a short test session with my professor, who coordinates the Zoom lectures. The new date for the speech is May 26. This discourse will focus on the portage of ships across the Isthmus of Corinth and is based on my article, "The Battle of the Gulf of Corinth." https://www.academia.edu/125356518/The_Battle_of_the_Gulf_of_Corinth I have completed the editing of the third part of my article, The Fall of New Rome, subtitled From Zero to Hero and Otherwise. This section explores the challenges faced by the crusading army at Zara as its leaders deliberate on their next course of action. A controversial decision ultimately diverts the Crusade from its original planned route, directing it toward another Christian city. In the end, Christendom gained valuable insights from this ill-fated overseas venture. The paper is ava...

  I have become a member of the New Israeli Scientific Society, which was established in March 2025. I will continue giving Zoom lectures for the Department of History and Philosophy as well as for the general public. My next presentation will take place on May 12 and will focus on the portage of ships across the Isthmus of Corinth. This event highlights the efforts of the Byzantine fleet to eliminate corsair raids by the Emirate of Crete. I am currently editing the third and final part of my article, "The Fall of New Rome." I reviewed another version of the events of the Fourth Crusade titled "Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice" by Madden. Additionally, I checked various facts and citations. I found evidence that Cardinal Peter Capuano absolved the Venetian participants of their crusading vows, allowing them to return home with a clear conscience – much to the Pope's displeasure. I will need to incorporate additional nuances into the text and save further de...

It seems that my notes have generated some interest among readers, and I feel it is important to update you on the latest developments. I have edited the second part of my new article, "The Fall of New Rome," which focuses on the events of the Fourth Crusade. This section highlights the role of the Venetian fleet in the siege of Zara (Zadar, Croatia) and delves into the tensions within the crusading camp, while discussing the campaign's ultimate goal. https://www.academia.edu/128273374/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_2_The_Sack_of_Zara  I am in the process of editing the third and final part of my account. Additionally, I have uploaded the revised version of Chapter 3 of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." This updated chapter presents an enhanced version of the final chapter of Unit I: The Three Trick Questions of Mathematical Geography. It explores how medieval European scholars understood the extent of the inhabited world. Drawing on the calculations...

  I have uploaded the first part of my new article, The Fall of New Rome, https://www.academia.edu/127661416/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_1 The paper discusses why the Fourth Crusade (1203-1204) chose Venice as its embarkation point. It also explores the factors that led to the signing of the Treaty of Venice in 1201 and examines the significant gap between the intentions expressed in the pact and the actual execution of those plans.  I have designed two additional parts that will be uploaded later.   In addition, I have retrieved an updated version of Chapter Two of "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." https://www.academia.edu/127881027/How_to_measure_the_Earths_circumference  This article compares the estimations of the Earth's circumference made by Greek, Arab, and European scholars, setting the "mean" value of ancient measurements to facilitate their conversion to modern equivalents. This paper has drawn the interest of many scholars, some of whom partici...