Medieval Seafaring in the Mediterranean

Anthropology 618

 

Tuesday, 9:10 to 12:20 p.m.

Room ANTH130


Dr. Filipe Vieira de Castro

Office 105 Anthropology Building, Tel. 845-6220, E-Mail: fvcastro@tamu.edu

Office hours: 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Monday or by appointment

 
In this course we will examine seafaring, maritime commerce, naval affairs, and shipbuilding in the Mediterranean from the late Roman Period until the end of the Middle Ages (for convenience, say the fall of Constantinople in 1453).  Each three-hour meeting will encompass one oral report on the day's theme (45 minutes), followed by three or four oral presentations of case-studies related to the day's theme (20 minutes), and based on relevant primary material (shipwrecks or historical documents).  In addition, there will be general readings assigned to the whole class.  In order for this to work, everyone must keep up with the readings, and everyone must participate in the discussion.  The final grade is based 50% on oral reports and class participation, and 50% on a term paper.
 
 

Schedule

 
  Week 1: Introduction
  Term paper requirements. Oral report format. Work assignments. Bibliography.
   
  Week 2: Late Roman or Early Byzantine Period
  Report:
  1. Late Antiquity and the East-West split: from Diocletian to Theodosius (284-395 AD)
  Case-studies:
 

2. Madrague de Giens.

3. Pointe de la Luque B.

4. The wreck at La Bourse de Marseilles.

5. Yassiada II and Dramont F.

   
  Week 3: Late Roman or Early Byzantine Period
  Report:
  6. From Theodosius to Heraclius (379-641 AD).
  Case studies:
 

7. Port-Vendres I.

8. Sebastos and Portus.

9. Laws concerning maritime trade, contracts, obligations, customs and harbour fees.

10. The Army's needs.  Canals.  Road systems.

   
  Week 4: Late Roman or Early Byzantine Period
  Report:
  11. Urban demands. Bulk cargoes: grain, and building materials. Amphoras: Wine, oil, and fish sauce.
  Case studies:
 

12. Luxury cargoes.

13. Isis.

14. The Skerki Bank wrecks.

15. Ship size.

   
  Week 5: Late Roman or Early Byzantine Period
  Report:
  16. Security in the seas. The Mediterranean in the 3rd-5th centuries. Notitia Dignitatum.
  Case studies:
 

17. Piracy.  Roman biremes.  Liburnians.

18. The ancient-medieval transition and the competition for maritime dominance.

19. Naval campaigns in the wars of Constantine. 

20. The fleet of Anastasius.

   
  Topic for your term paper due next Wednesday before class.
   
  Week 6: Byzantines and Arabs
  Report:
  21. Umayyad (661-750 AD) and Abbasid (750-1258 AD) Caliphates.
  Case studies:
 

22. Transition from shell to skeleton: Tantura A, Yassiada I and Saint Gervais II.

23. The hull of the Bozburun shipwreck.

24. Serçe Limani and Tantura F shipbuilding.

25. The "Saracen" wrecks:  Estéou, Agay A and B, Batéguier. Tantura B shipwreck.

   
  Week 7: Byzantines and Arabs
  Report:
  26. East and West.  The Mediterranean during the Abbasid period (750-1258 AD).
  Case studies:
 

27. Iconographic evidence and rigs.  Lateen rigging.

28. Military and civilian supply and demand.

29. Government intervention/involvement in maritime exchange.  The role of the Church.

30. Laws concerning maritime trade

   
  Abstract and bibliography of your term paper due next Wednesday before class.
   
  Week 8: Byzantines and Arabs
  Report:
  31. The Mediterranean World in the 8th and 9th centuries.  Western Europe.  Eastern Europe.  Northern Europe.  The Muslim world.
  Case studies:
 

32. Dromons and the re-emergence of "naval policy."

33. The themal system of defense.

34. Logistics.

35. Leo's Tactica.  Ramming? Prepared fire.

   
  Week 9: Byzantines and Arabs
  Report:
  36. Who were the seafarers - personal possessions from shipwrecks.  Life aboard in the year 1000.
  Case studies:
 

37. The cargo of the Yassiada I ship.

38. The cargo of the Bozburun ship.

39. The cargo of the Serçe Limani ship.

40. The cargo of the Saracen wrecks.

   
 

Week 10: Byzantines, Arabs and Vikings

  Report:
  41. The Mediterranean World in the 10th and 11th centuries.  Western Europe.  Eastern Europe.  Northern Europe.  The Muslim world.
  Case studies:
 

42.  From the desert to the sea: navigation and navigational instruments

43. Mapping the World: Atlantic islands, monsters, and magnets in the bottom of the sea.

44. The Vikings arrive!

45. Traveling in the Mediterranean.

   
  Week 11: The Crusading Era
  Report:
  46. The Crusading Era (1095-1291).
  Case studies:
 

47. Louis IX's ships: size and configuration.  Transporting horses: the ergonomic and logistical requirements.

48. Crusader naval strategy and tactics.

49. Financing the crusade: Louis's agents.

50. The Hospitallers.

 

Week 12: Italy and the Renaissance, 1025-1453

  Report:
  51. Italy and the Renaissance, 1025-1453. The commercial explosion.
  Case studies:
 

52. Ownership: ships and ventures. Capital and loans. Contracts and obligations.  Stowage.

53. The Venetian Arsenal.

54. Building a private ship.

55. Sea Law: rights of owners and sailors.

   
  Term paper due next Friday at 1:00 pm!
   
  Week 13: Italy and the Renaissance: Ships and Shipwrightry
  Report:
  56. Trading in all directions.  The Northern, Eastern, Western, and Far-Eastern Trading Routes.  The Iberian Discoveries.
  Case studies:
 

57. On the origin of the 3-masted ship.

58. Lateen rigged craft: the Contarina vessels. Iconographic evidence.

59. Culip VI and Les Sorres X.

60. The Timbotta MS and the Fabrica di galère.

   
  Week 14: Renaissance Naval Affairs
  Report:
  61. Galleys, guns, and the Ottomans.
  Case studies:
 

62. Catalan warships of the 13th and 14th centuries.

63. The gallia and the Lake Garda galley.

64. The Ottoman navy. The Kadirga.

65. Early gun founding.

   
 

Oral Reports

Oral reports must fit exactly within the time frame established.  Images, such as slides or computer graphics' presentations are welcome.  I expect students to present a short summary in the beginning, followed by a clear and structured report, a critic analysis of the sources in which the report was based, and a conclusion.

Every oral report must be accompanied by a short handout.  Handouts must be useful to your colleagues for current and future reference.  Typically these should contain an abstract of your presentation, critical comments (when found pertinent), and a complete list of the bibliography consulted.  Timelines are welcome.  Although I consider the graphic aspect very important, I will grade especially the contents.  I don't care too much for handouts with lots of color pictures and no relevant information.

 
 

Term Paper

Term papers must follow the style and format of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and Underwater Exploration, the American Neptune, the Society for Historical Archaeology Publications Style Guide, or the Mariner's Mirror. 

I strongly advise all my students to read Dr. Kevin Crisman's Guidelines for Writing Your Term Paper. I grade all late papers to 90 points.

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

 
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Student Services Building.  The telephone number is 845-1637.
 
 

Aggie Honor Code

 

"An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do"

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning and follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M University community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System. For additional information please visit: www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/
On all course work, assignments, and examinations at Texas A&M Universit, the following Honor Pledge shall be preprinted and signed by the student:

"On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."

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