Merchant Galleys: Medieval Seafaring

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.       Byzantine Contribution

3.       Latin Galleys, Horse Transports, and Purpose-Built Oared Craft: Medieval Cutting-edge Technology

 

Unit II: The Intricacies of Naval Warfare

1.       The Battle of Ad Decimum

2.       The Omayyad Siege of Constantinople (August 717-August 718)

3.       The Portage of Ships across the Isthmus

4.       The Siege of Chandax: The Byzantine Recovery of Crete

5.       The Fall of New Rome (April 12, 1204) 

6.       The Battle of Meloria (August 1284)

7.       The Battle of Les Formigues

8.       The Battle of Chioggia

 

Unit IV: Merchant Galleys

? Naval mechanical artillery

Unit V: The Age of Sail

Unit VI: The Age of Navigation Aids

I am currently developing a narrative about merchant galleys, with a particular focus on the Venetia-Flanders route. As usual, I have encountered many misconceptions surrounding this topic. In addition to transporting valuable cargoes, these rowing vessels also carried many "mundane" commodities, such as alum and wine. On the inbound voyage, metals procured in England were used as ballast. Some ships operated on multiple routes; for example, they traveled from Alexandria to Venice and then from Venice to Flanders, or Flanders galleys visited African ports on their way home. Political events sometimes hindered the continuation of these trips. Great galleys were generally more seaworthy than warships and often functioned like sailing craft; however, they could be vulnerable to unpredictable weather and pirate attacks.

The Fall of New Rome. Part III

 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 available at

https://www.academia.edu/129233488/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_3_From_Zero_to_Hero_and_Otherwise

You can read the previous parts here:

https://www.academia.edu/127661416/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_1 https://www.academia.edu/128273374/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_2_The_Sack_of_Zara

I also re-edited Chapter 4 of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." Titled The World as the Trefoil, this section explores the evolution of the Mappa Mundi, or "world maps," which reflect the medieval imagination. Over the centuries, this medium transformed from simple representations of a tripartite-inhabited Earth to more intricate designs that incorporated Ptolemy's vision and reflected the influence of sea charts. This portrayal of the medieval world, encompassing both the sacred and the profane, unfolds before us.

https://www.academia.edu/129455182/The_World_as_the_Trefoil

My Membership

 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 details for another edition.

I apologize for the brevity of this entry, but there is so much work to be done. I hope to compensate my readers and listeners with more comprehensive articles and lectures in the future.

The Fall of New Rome: The Sack of Zara

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 of Ancient Greek geographers, cosmographers like Henricus Martellus developed a concept of populated regions separated by vast stretches of the Ocean Sea. The following Bottom Line of Unit I summarizes the first three chapters. 

https://www.academia.edu/128448718/How_Long_Spans_the_Inhabited_World

The last paper sparked a brief discussion with a reader who prefers a different version of the stadium. For more information about the various versions, see my previous paper

 https://www.academia.edu/127881027/How_to_measure_the_Earths_circumference

I expressed my preference for a middle calculation because we are often unaware of the specific calculation methods used in different cases. In my opinion, choosing an alternative standard does not affect the overall outcome. Medieval cartographers faced a dilemma between Eratosthenes's concept of a "giant Earth" and Posidonius's idea of a "dwarf Earth." I also plan to upload two additional re-edited chapters in the future. My main focus has been the exploration of early gunpowder weapons on medieval ships. Additionally, I want to research the role of mechanical artillery onboard these vessels.

The Fall of New Rome Release 1

 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 participated in the discussion. We talked about the accuracy of data regarding the Greek stadium, which is a unit of length. We also discussed my proposal to convert the stadium into meters.

I am continuing to collect data for my next research unit, "The Age of Gunpowder." I recently got hands on a remarkable book entitled "Gunpowder Galleys: Changing Technology & Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the 16th Century," written by John Guilmartin. I am reviewing his ideas and trying to develop my own.

The Age of Gunpowder

 I am working on a new unit in my project titled "The Age of Gunpowder." In this section, I will explore the introduction of firearms on ships in the fourteenth century, the development of heavy ordnance on galleys and sailing ships during the 1400s and 1500s, and the decline of oared armed vessels in the 1700s. I am currently gathering additional data and have just begun the development process.

I read Anderson's "Oared Fighting Ships," focusing on his discussion of Mediterranean galleys, rowing alla sensile and al scaloccio, as well as the armament of the galleass.

Rodger's paper, "The Development of Broadside Gunnery," is also highly informative. In it, he discusses the effectiveness of heavy guns mounted on galleys and describes how sailing ships slowly attempted to match these oared vessels in speed, agility, and the capacity to mount heavy artillery.

 I am currently editing a new chapter on naval tactics titled "The Fall of New Rome," which focuses on the tragic history of the Fourth Crusade. I have divided a lengthy excerpt into three parts. Part I is called "The Rendezvous at Venice." This section describes the gathering of the crusading host at the head of the Adriatic Sea and highlights the leaders' failure to cover the debt for maritime transportation.

The Age of Gunpowder

I am currently gathering data for a new unit in my project. I found John F. Guilmartin's book, "Gunpowder and Galleys," to be quite informative. It explains why navies took so long to incorporate artillery effectively and discusses the changes in ship construction that transformed galleys into floating artillery platforms.

I have released an updated version of the first chapter of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East:"

https://www.academia.edu/127139711/What_if_the_Earth_Is_the_Sphere

This chapter argues that the concept of a spherical Earth was accepted during the Middle Ages. However, many medieval scholars viewed our planet as the fixed center of a revolving universe, often reconciling their beliefs with experimental evidence.

Keywords: John Gower, John of Hollywood, Venerable Bede, Gautier de Metz, John Mandeville, Martin Behaim, Christopher Columbus

On February 2, I will deliver a new Zoom lecture in Russian based on my paper:

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

The lecture will focus on the siege of Constantinople, which endured a thirteenth-month assault on land and a naval blockade. I will explain why the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire proved difficult to conquer, even against the superior Umayyad forces. I will attribute the Byzantine victory to their skillful resource management, advanced maritime tactics, and support from their Bulgar allies. Additionally, I will contest the notion that the Greek fire was used and will present several alternative explanations.

Keywords: Umayyad Caliphate, Constantinople, Maslama, Leo III, Theodosian Walls, dromon, Greek fire

 

The Siege of Chandax (2)

My new paper is "out in print" after undergoing thorough editing. This chapter examines the history of Chandax, the capital of the Emirate of Crete (820s-961), and its recapture by the Byzantine army led by General Nikephoros Phokas. The author seeks to align the evidence gathered from both Byzantine and Arab chronicles. Additionally, he includes details about the use of trebuchets, the establishment of military encampments, and the methods used to undermine the walls of citadels.

https://www.academia.edu/126933976/The_Siege_of_Chandax_The_Byzantine_Recovery_of_Crete_960_961

I have re-edited the opening chapter of my second book, titled "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." The paper "What If the Earth Is a Sphere" examines medieval geography and includes numerous examples and illustrations. It demonstrates that medieval scholars viewed the Earth as a spherical body at the center of a rotating universe. I plan to upload an excerpt from this paper in three weeks. Additionally, I have begun preparing a Zoom lecture about the siege of Constantinople by an Arab army in 717-718, which will be based on my article.

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

Currently, I am still gathering data on naval guns and related topics. I am reading an intriguing book titled "The Sea in History: Medieval Period," which features many compelling articles about seafaring.