Pioneering the Atlantic Route (1)

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, and the reasons for their decline. 

The second extract will show the impact of the new maritime route on the trade between the Eastern 
Mediterranean and Flanders. 
 The last three extracts will describe the two distinct shipbuilding traditions in North Europe and the Mediteeranean, and the transition from lateen-rigged ships to two-masted carracks.  

Those who are keen on maritime battles may read my account of eight frays in the medieval Mediterranean:

https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum

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

https://www.academia.edu/125356518/The_Battle_of_the_Gulf_of_Corinth

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

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

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

https://www.academia.edu/130330389/The_Battle_of_Meloria_August_6_1284_

https://www.academia.edu/144389334/The_Battle_of_the_Formigues_Islands

https://www.academia.edu/145269678/The_War_of_Chioggia


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