Michael Baizerman Author

  I have uploaded my second paper from the cycle, "The Golden Fleece Quest," on the Academia site. You can read it at  https://www.academia.edu/180028514/The_Venetian_Response_the_Inauguration_of_the_Great_Galley Like the first article, the second has also gained popularity, with about 300 views after the first week. Readers also credit my previous accounts, and I hope to hit 20 K views this month, November 2026.  This is the article's promo: This article examines the Venetian great galleys, vessels that transported passengers and luxury cargoes throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. These specialized ships were effective coastal vessels and occasionally navigated the open sea for limited periods. The galea grossa represented a distinctive commercial model that combined state capital with private banking. This study analyzes the auction conditions, identifies the participants in trade voyages, and explores the crew’s responses to maritime challenges. I have reviewed the...

  The three-week session of my first paper has concluded, receiving over 400 views and several comments. One respondent suggested consulting pilotage books for the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, which provide monthly sea conditions and general recommendations. However, because these books originated in the mid-19th century, they are not applicable to the 14th to 16th centuries, the period addressed in my article.  https://www.academia.edu/176668099/Pioneering_the_Atlantic_Route_The_Genoese_Vessels_Unlock_the_Maritime_Route_to_the_North_Sea    I received a response from Steven Lowe, who has constructed models of Venetian merchant ships. We discussed the central thesis of my article: the introduction of the cog in the Mediterranean and the emergence of the early carrack, a two-masted vessel with dual propulsion and a stern rudder. Next week, I intend to upload my second paper, which examines the Venetian response to the opening of a new sea route to northwestern Europ...

Chapter 2 of my new series, The Golden Fleece Quest, . Part I: The Flanders Galleys on the Route to  the  Foggy Albion, has been thoroughly edited, and is ready. I kept the original outline and added a new conclusion called The Same but Different.  The chapter is 12,800 words long and includes 80 notes. For the first time, I added 10 AI-generated illustrations. I plan to upload it to my Academia site in a week, as I want to give Chapter 1 more time to gain views. So far, it has already reached 290 views. 1. A New Design 2. A Specialized Ship 3. The Galley as a Sailer 3a. The Open-Sea Crossing  3b. Around the Clock and Against Opposing Winds 3c. In Flat Calms 4. The Galley as a Warship 5. The Galley as a Freighter 6. Life Expectancy  7. Nobile sopra l’incanto 7a. The State Involvement 7b. The Applicants 7c. The Patriciate 8. All the King’s Men 8a. The Captain 8b. The Patron and his Mates 8c. The Specialists 8d. The Galeotti ...

Yesterday, October 2, 2026, I uploaded the final draft of my paper,  " Pioneering the Atlantic Route:  The Genoese Vessels Unlock the Maritime Route to the North Sea," on Academia.edu.  https://www.academia.edu/176668099/Pioneering_the_Atlantic_Route_The_Genoese_Vessels_Unlock_the_Maritime_Route_to_the_North_Sea   The sections on lateen-rigged ships, cogs, and early carracks have undergone major revisions. I enlisted AI to check controversial statements. I requested and received permission from an American sailor and a journalist to reproduce his photo of a modern shoal-[shallow-] draft vessel deliberately going aground. The same practice as used by cogs in my story. The account comprises 15,500 words and 96 notes, including explanations of nautical terms. I added a conclusion that repeats the same ideas in a different, more nuanced tone. Most additions make this piece readable for both history students and history enthusiasts.   This is the first article o...

My blog's popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. By September 9th, nearly 15K viewers have visited it,  with the total approaching 60K. As usual, I am not sure why, but want to thank you all for your interest. After a long preparation, I have stated writing the first draft of the first chapter of a new cycle about the Flanders galleys. The chapter, titled " Pioneering the Atlantic Route: The Genoese Vessels Paving the Way to the North Sea," will focus on how and why Genoese mariners launched a new maritime route linking their homeland with Flanders and England.  The chapter will  include the following topics: a. The Rise and Passing of the Champagne Fairs b. Unlocking the Bottleneck c. Ligurian Round Ships d. North-European Cogs e. The advent of the early carrack The extract about the Champagne Fairs will present the business opportunities of the land route between Genoa and Champagne and explain why the Fairs became the focus of international trade and finance...

Although the draft of this article is ready, I will not upload it yet for two reasons.  The main reason is the chapter order. "The Venetian Response" is the second chapter, and I don't like to move it before the first one, "Pioneering the Atlantic Route." The latter still needs many changes, including additional lines on the Champagne Fairs, Genoese round ships, north-European cogs, Mediterranean cogs, and a few others.  When I finish developing the first account, I will solve the second, financial problem by renewing my  Academia Premium membership, which will give my articles broader exposure.  Here is the outline of the second chapter: 1.        A new design 2.        A Specialized Ship 3.        The galley as a Sailer a.        The Open-sea Crossing   b.        Around the clock and against opposing ...