Michael Baizerman Author

 I uploaded a new chapter of my book, "The Enchanting Encounters with the East." This paper is the first part of Unit VI, The Witness in the Den. It focuses on the Catholic missions to the Far East launched during the 13th and 14th centuries. These enterprises took advantage of the new world order initiated by the Mongols. View https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael The article is available for Discussions during the nearest three weeks. You may address your remarks to my email address mikebis@yandex.com later.  The paper has received a welcoming response from Avital Heyman, an art historian and an expert in medieval visual culture.  I have made considerable progress with the draft paper on light galleys, covering Byzantine innovations,  Latin achievements, Medieval Triremes & Centerline Rudder, Horse transports, and Purpose-built galleys. The last topic left is  Displacement & Maintenance. If I don't find interesting data, I will drop it...

 I have made good progress on Chapter 2. covering many issues, such as s peed and watering of the crews, coastal shipping and beaching, s hipworm and life expectancy, v isibility, and s eaworthiness.  I am currently checking the section dealing with Byzantine  innovations: full deck, dromons, and galea. Though I filtered the data from my previous search, I resolved to look for more info. The chapter  comprises 13 pages (about 5 K words) and will probably be much longer. I would like to add a section of transport galleys carrying supplies and horses.  I have requested and received John E. Dotson's article, " Safety Regulations for galleys in mid-fourteenth century Genoa: Some thoughts on medieval risk management." The report was unavailable in my search engine, and I asked the author to send me a copy. John is the emeritus professor at Southern Illinois University. He agreed to answer my questions, and for the first time, I have a correspondent who studies the s...