Light galleys (2)

 I  assessed the material and transformed all Bits & Pieces into one file. I labeled all the scraps and wrote a list of labels to make them functional. 

Despite many distractions, I continued developing the storyline about the light galleys. I started sowing my Bits and Pieces together to make long sheets. Indeed, there are so many topics that they will cover the whole chapter or even two chapters. The main themes, as I see them now, are:

•  the galley layout, 
• the function of the fleets, 
• naval bases, 
• the geopolitics of blue-water powers.   

My latest reading on the subject is Matthew King, The Norman Kingdom of Africa and the Medieval Mediterranean. (THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, 2018). This dissertation has enriched my  understanding of the geopolitical vision of the kingdom of Sicily, especially Roger II, who expanded his territory to include south Italy and Ifriqiya, a coastal strip in North Africa. He aimed to control east-west traffic in the central Mediterranean, i.e., the strait of Messina and the Sicilian Channel, by making Sicilian ports obligatory stopovers for shipping. 

I have attracted many readers to my latest contributions to the Academia site though my aim, to reach 10 K views, is still not at a corner. I plan to attain this goal throughout next year. 

https://www.academia.edu/84142155/The_Fifth_Crusade_or_Waiting_for_the_Train_that_Would_never_Come

https://www.academia.edu/85954261/The_Scourge_of_God

Other papers are available https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

Light Galleys (1)

 The following is an update of my work on a new chapter. 

Due to all sorts of distractions, I continue assessing the data on light galleys. The good news is that I will finish the evaluation soon. I skip the material concerning other matters and concentrate all my findings in a single file for further consideration. I also decided to make an exclusive vocabulary in this chapter to facilitate possible corrections. 

I still have reservations about the scope of the material. Most of the things I collect cite the same facts in a new manner. I will decide later which version is preferable or will make a mix. I may save some of these repetitions for the concluding section of my paper. I will also reduce citations. Sometimes, I can paraphrase the idea since the original one is not so bright (at least, in English translation). In other cases, I will look for an original citation instead of citing secondary sources. 

At this stage, I also check the value of some facts. For example, several medieval authors mention binding galleys with cables as a guarantee of a strict battle formation. It seems unbelievable since in confined spaces, where most naval battles occurred, this measure would lead to a lack of maneuverability, with some oared ships running aground and others colliding. The galley flexibility was one of its main advantages, and fleet commanders must have realized it. 

Another topic I concentrate on is  using ports as supply stations and shelters. Galleys depended on ports because of their limited operational ranges. The East Roman Empire held sway on large parts of the Mediterranean as long as it had naval bases on the islands and coastlines. The rise of the Arab fleets led to the seizure of the major islands, which they used as refueling stations in raiding the European shores. Then, the Crusaders captured the Levantine littoral, depriving the Fatimid navy of the freedom of action and exposing Egyptian waterfront to harassments.

Similar tactics define the engagement of the fleets during Genoese-Venetian wars, Ottoman-Venetian wars, and the struggle to control North African outposts between Spain and the Porte.